Consultancy services for conducting a National Research Study

Introduction
The Albanian Women Empowerment Network (AWEN) works in the field of protection of human rights, in particular of the rights of women and girls. The main aim of this network is the social, economic, cultural and political empowerment of Albanian women. The network functions on the basis of a well-defined mission, a board of directors, six-monthly and yearly plans etc.The network consists of 9 organizations, which are located in all districts of Albania from north to south, specifically: “Agritra Vision”, Peshkopi; “Gender Alliance for Development Centre”, Tirana; “Counseling Line for Girls and Women”, Tirana; “Jona”, Sarandë; “Me, the Woman”, Pogradec; “Social Centre for Women and Girls”, Durrës; The Psycho – Social Centre “Vatra”, Vlora; “Woman’s Forum”, Elbasan; and “Woman to Woman”, Shkodër. AWEN and its partner organizations have been actively working to improve the situation for girls and women in Albania for many years now.

Background information
Violence against Women and Girls is one of the most pervasive forms of violence. The most common form of violence against women is that performed by a husband or an intimate partner. Men often use violence to punish perceived transgressions of gender roles. Violence against women is often considered a normal rather than a criminal act, and victims rather than perpetrators tend to be blamed and stigmatized. Domestic violence is a serious, preventable violation of human rights that relates to any physical, sexual, or psychological harm done by a current or former partner or spouse. Violence against women and girls is not a new phenomenon in Albania. Such violence is rooted deeplyin patriarchaltraditions and customs that have long shaped Albanian society, such as strict genderroles and identities, patriarchal authority, respect for the code of honour and shame, control of severalgenerations in the family, poverty, inequality in the area of employment or education, and gender-based migration.
Intimate partner violence is defined by the World Health Organization as a “behaviour by an intimate partner that causes physical, sexual, or psychological damage, including acts of physical aggression, sexual coercion, psychological abuse, and controlling behaviour”. The intimate partner violence is common among teenagers and has been often approached in international studies. In Albania, the articulation between gender and intimate partner violence in adolescence is a topic that hasn’t had much attention, while the country lacks any national study on this topic.

The experience of the first intimate relationships in a patriarchal society like ours, may determine greater vulnerability to experiencing and perpetrating violence. Furthermore, the power inequality between generations (present in typical older male – younger female relationships) may also determine greater vulnerability of adolescents to the phenomenon, since at this stage of life adolescents occupy positions of social sub-alternity.Based on conclusions of a recent study , teens who experience physical or psychological violence in their adolescent dating relationships have a significantly greater risk of suffering abuse in their future adult romantic relationships.On the other hand, evidence also shows that teens that experience or are testimony of violence at home are more prone to be perpetrators or victims in their intimate relationships during their adolescence years.

Based on the above, AWEN wishes to engage the services of a local team of consultantsfor the purpose of conducting a national research studyon intimate partner violence among adolescents, from a gender perspective. This intervention is supported by the Swedish government, in the frame of the three year programme “Protection and promotion of women rights in Albania”.

Consultancy Purpose
The goal of this assignment is to map andprovide insight on the intimate partner violence among adolescents in Albania, from a gender perspective. Expected results include:

– Based on quantitative data collected at national level, provide a thorough analysis of the incidence and characteristics of intimate partner violence among adolescents in Albania;
– Provide an analysis of the correlation between the incidence of gender based violence in early intimate relationships andpotential repercussions for future adults in Albania;

Research questions
– “What is the incidence and the characteristics of the violence experienced and perpetrated by adolescents in their intimate relationships in Albania?”
– “How can the intimate partner violence in adolescence be understood from the gender perspective?”
– What do the findings mean in terms of potential repercussions for future adults in Albania?

Methodology
The consultants’ team will prepare a first draft of the methodology for the completion of the assignment to be sent in the application package. The draft-methodology will also specify the work load for each activity and among the team leader and other co-researchers (please refer to the table in Level of Effort).The methodology will be finalized at a later step, in close collaboration with AWEN staff.

The consultant will work closely with AWEN staff in order to ensure that the process is smooth and expected results are achieved. The team of consultants is expected to collect all relevant information on GBV in the country and AWEN will support the collection of the information to the extent that is possible. Regular/periodical meetings will be held between the AWEN staff and the team of consultants.

Responsibilities
Organisation’s / Team of consultants’ responsibilities include:
– Finalize the methodology for the completion of the research study;
– Develop a detailed work plan describing the steps to be taken and the timelines for their completion;
– Conduct the desk work for literature review (at international and national level – correlated topics, if direct knowledge is missing);
– Prepare the research survey to be administered to young girls and boys of age 15-19 (high schools);
– Collaborate closely with the two field work coordinators (each coordinator will be in charge of 6 districts each);
– Conduct the training with the local team of surveyors (12 persons, one per district) on survey administration;
– Lead and supervise the piloting phase;
– Supervise field work and conduct quality control of surveying/ data gathering in collaboration with the two field work coordinators;
– Ensure quality control during the data entry process and data cleaning;
– Create a database that can be made public for future use;
– Conduct data analysis based on the research study’s key questions;
– Prepare a first draft of the study report and send to AWEN for feedback within September 2018;
– Finalise the study report and deliver it to AWEN within October 15, 2018;
– Present the findings of the research study at an launching event organized by AWEN during November 2018;
– Write quarterly reports on consultancy workwith detailed division of work load among the team (working days for each consultant).

AWEN’s responsibilities include:
– Facilitate the collaboration of national and local stakeholders (Ministry of Education, Education Directories in each region, high schools where the surveys will be administered, etc.);
– Ensure the collaboration of the 9 AWEN members organizations working overall Albania;
– Coordinate communication with the team of surveyors;
– Provide the necessary materials/ needed during implementation (printing of surveys, SPSS programme, computers for data entry, transport when necessary,etc.);
– Provide office facilities duringdata entry phase, meetings among the research team (consultants, coordinators, surveyors);
– Offer support during coordination of field work;
– Provide continuous feedback during the whole process;
– Other emerging needs.

Deliverables
 Methodology and work plan;
 Research Survey;
 Database will the collected data;
 A first draft of the study report within September 2018;
 A final draft within October 15, 2015;
 Presentation of findings during the launching event;

Duration of assignment:
The assignment is expected to be completed during 05.12.2017 – 31.11.2018.

Level of effort
The number of days foreseen for the whole team of consultantsto complete the tasks presented in the tablebelow is 85(days). The work load for each activity and among the team leader and other co-researcherswill be distributed as deemed best and agreed upon by the team. It needs to be described in the methodology of the technical proposal sent by the team of applicants.

Tasks/ activities
Prepare & finalize the methodology and work plan
Conduct the desk work for literature review
Prepare & finalize the research design and questionnaire
Training of team of field researchers
Coordinate & supervise field work (piloting included)
Data entry process supervision & data cleaning
Data analysis process
Preparation of 1st draft
Preparation of final draft
Present findings at a launching event
Prepare quarterly reports on consultancy process and results

Reporting
The team of consultants (team leader) reports to the AWEN Executive Director and Programme Manager. The team of consultants will report quarterly, based on the Work Plan of the consultancy, as well as upon request.

Competencies and abilities:
 Knowledge and high interest about the women human rights, especially gender based violence;
 A proven track-record relating to national level research studies in similar topics;
 Proficiency in written and spoken English and Albanian, including gender and policy terminology;
 Excellent writing skills;
 Ability to analyse, plan, communicate effectively orally and in writing, solve problems, organize and meet expected results;
 Proved expertise of at least one consultant of the team in data analysis (SPPS or similar programme);
 Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with various public and non-public stakeholders;
 Strong interpersonal and team work skills;
 Constructive attitude and correctness;

Required Skills and Experience
 Advanced university degree in social studies, gender studies, human rights, or related discipline;
 At least 8 years of relevant work experience, particularly in the areas of human rights, gender equality, gender-based violence;
 Experience in national level research studies in similar relevant topics;
 Previous experience with CSOs in conducting similar relevant work;
 Previous teamwork experience at the national or/and international levels;
 Previous experience in cooperating with central and local structures in Albania for research scope.
Deadline: Within 30November 2017, every interested organization and/or team of consultants is required to submit:
 Expression of interest;
 The organizational profile (in case of organizations) and the CVs of consultants to be engaged;
 Technical (short description of the methodology) proposal;
 Financial proposal in EUR;
 Supporting documents (previous research studies, national level reports, etc.)
to the following e-mail addressinfo@awenentwork.org; rezarta.qerimi@awenetwork.org;

Resources &Schedule of Payments:
The ceiling amount for this assignment is 10,200.00 EUR (ten thousand and two hundred EUR).
Payment will be made as per the payment schedulein the contract upon (i) satisfactory completion of tasks; (ii) provision of deliverables specified in the ToR-s; (iii) submission of and approval of final draft.

Evaluation of applicants:
Candidates will be evaluated using a cumulative analysis method taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. Contract will be awarded to the organization/ team of consultants whose offer has been evaluated and determined as responsive/compliant/acceptable andhaving received the highest score out of below defined technical and financial criteria.

Applications will be assessed according to the following Technical Criteria (max 70 points):
• Team members’ qualifications:Advanced university degree in social studies, gender studies, human rights, or related discipline (max 15 points);
• Team members’ professional background: At least 8 years of relevant work experience, particularly in the areas of human rights, gender equality, gender-based violence (max 20 points);
• Team members’ relevant experience: Experience in national level research studies in similar relevant topics;Previous experience with CSOs in conducting similar relevant work; Previous teamwork experience at the national or/and international levels (especially team leader);(max 20 points);
• Proposed methodology(max 15 points);

Only candidates obtaining a minimum 45 pointsin the technical evaluation would be considered for financial evaluation.The maximum number of points assigned to the financial proposal (30 points) is allocated to the lowest price proposal. All other price proposals receive points in inverse proportion.