Consultant - Emergency Preparedness, Women's Refugee Commission, New York, NY

Short-Term Consultant - Field Test of Emergency Preparedness Checklist

Posted by: Women's Refugee Commission

DESCRIPTION

Since 1989, the Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) has advocated vigorously for laws, policies and programs to improve the lives and protect the rights of refugee and displaced women, children and young people—bringing about lasting, measurable change.

The sexual and reproductive health (SRH) program of the WRC leads innovative programming to improve the SRH of all persons affected by crises.  They identify critical gaps in SRH and make recommendations on solutions to better meet the needs of women and girls specifically.  To ensure that the minimum standard for priority SRH services are in place from the outset of an emergency, they advocate for implementation of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for reproductive health in crisis situations.  They advocate that after the crisis situation stabilizes, the full range of SRH services be available.  The WRC began advocating for the inclusion of SRH within emergency preparedness activities in 2010.

The WRC currently facilitates the official RH sub-working group of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (ISDR), with the goal of developing policy and programmatic recommendations for the inclusion of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) within Emergency Preparedness and Planning activities.  The WRC is joined by the World Health Organization, International Planned Parenthood Federation’s (IPPF) SPRINT initiative, UNICEF, UNFPA, the IFRC, CARE and International Medical Corps in efforts related to this issue.

Between 2011 and 2012, the group developed a SRH fact sheet for the 2011 Global Platform meeting, and a Policy Brief for the 2012 International Disaster Risk Reduction Day.  The group has additionally drafted a checklist of activities for implementation at the national, sub-national and community level which would support the incorporation of SRH within DRR and emergency preparedness.  This check list is currently in need of field test and review. 

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE & SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH
Emergencies and large-scale disasters have significant impact on public health, health infrastructure and the delivery of health care. More than 1.1 million deaths were recorded in over 4000 large-scale natural disasters in the past decade, with an average of over 220 million people affected each year. More than 1.5 billion people live in countries affected by fragility, conflict or large-scale violence. In 2012, it is estimated at least 51 million people in 16 countries require some form of humanitarian assistance. This is not the full picture, as numerous other emergencies, including epidemics, chemical and radiological incidents, and major transport crashes, also affect public health, particularly at the local level, but often with national and international dimensions too. Economic losses from these events run into the billions of dollars, setting back social development and hard-earned health gains.

• Emergencies have a disproportionate effect on the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children.
• Eight of the ten countries with the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world are in fragile circumstances and are affected by current or recent conflict. Neonatal mortality rates are highest in areas affected by humanitarian emergencies.
• Given the high HIV prevalence in countries at risk or facing emergencies, a significant proportion of people affected by emergencies are living with HIV.
• Emergencies linked to displacement, food insecurity and poverty increase vulnerability to HIV and negatively affect the lives of those already living with HIV.
• Population pressures, combined with poorly planned urban and rural development and climate change, make communities more vulnerable to, and increase the risk of, emergencies and disasters.

Sexual and reproductive health (SRH) is a significant public health need in all communities, including those facing emergencies. As stated in the outcome document of the Rio+20 United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development, universal access to reproductive health, including family planning and sexual health, is needed and should be integrated into national strategies and programmes.

ABOUT THE CONSULTANCY

The WRC currently seeks a consultant to assist in the field test of the draft checklist, developed by the official RH sub-working group of the ISDR.  Ideal candidates would possess experience working in disaster risk reduction, and have networks for this work in at least two countries.  Some field test locations may be selected based on existing government and agency networks.  Additionally, ideal candidates would posses some knowledge of field test methodology and tools. 

 

SPECIFIC DELIVERABLES

The Consultant is expected to work with the RH sub-working group of the ISDR, under supervision of the WRC in order to complete the following deliverables:

• Provide input to field test methodology and finalize protocol
• Draft e-tool for broad data collection regarding the existing checklist- to be implemented through survey format or through targeted outreach. Analyze and present findings.
• Travel and actively engage 2-3 country DRR teams in the revision and further development of the checklist Integrating Sexual and Reproductive Health into Health Emergency and Disaster Risk Management. 
• Implement field test methodology in each country (ie: consultation groups, and key informant interviews), incorporating all levels of the health system
• Summarize field input regarding recommendations for “field friendliness”
• Incorporate suggested revisions within checklist, for presentation to the working group
• Garner support within field offices for the finalization of such tools and obtain information about other resource needs

For more information on our work at the Women’s Refugee Commission, and our Sexual and Reproductive Health Program please click here.

HOW TO APPLY

Visit http://womensrefugeecommission.org/about/employment/1627-short-term

Apply for the job here.

Consultant - Women & Immigration Reform, Women's Refugee Commission, New York, NY

Short-Term Consultant - Women and Immigration Reform

Posted by: Women's Refugee Commission

DESCRIPTION

The Women’s Refugee Commission (WRC) advocates vigorously for laws, policies and programs to improve the lives and protect the rights of refugee and internally displaced women, children, and young people, including those seeking asylum – bringing lasting, measurable change.  The Women’s Refugee Commission is legally part of the International Rescue Committee (IRC).


SCOPE OF WORK

This position is a short-term (5 month) consultancy from approximately May 1, 2013 to September 30, 2013 dependent on hours worked and final negotiation of deliverables.

Through its role as the lead coordinator for the women’s immigration reform policy table, the Migrant Rights and Justice program (MRJ) of WRC is playing a leadership role in the national effort to ensure that women and their families are not left out of immigration reform. In this capacity, MRJ is responsible for integrating the work of the women’s table into that of the larger Alliance for Citizenship policy table, coordinating the efforts of the women’s table to advance immigration legislation that addresses the needs of women, and linking the work of the policy table to the communications and organizing efforts being carried out by multiple partner campaigns and coalitions.  The Consultant will support the work of the women’s immigration reform policy table by providing expert policy analysis, drafting legislative language and supporting materials, informing the communications and field efforts, and engaging in public education across a wide range of priority issues.  The policy table’s priority issues include legalization, family unity, future flows, worker rights, protection, and health care/economic security.

The consultant will provide support on all aspects of the policy table and will work in consultation with the Senior Program Officer, Migrant Rights and Justice and Director, Migrant Rights and Justice.

The consultancy is based in Washington DC. Payment will be monthly upon completion of predetermined deliverables, and will be commensurate with experience.

Deliverables are as follows:

• June 1: Submission of a progress report detailing work carried out during the month of May
• July 1: Submission of a progress report detailing work carried out during the month of June
• August 1: Submission of a progress report detailing work carried out during the month of July
• September 1: Submission of a progress report detailing work carried out during the month of August
• October 1: Submission of final report detailing work carried out during the month of September and overall achievements related to the inclusion of women in immigration reform

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Work in coordination with the Senior Program Officer, Migrant Rights and Justice, to support and advance the policy priorities of the women’s policy table

• Participate in weekly and emergency policy table meetings and assist with the development and facilitation of agendas
• Track, disseminate, and help respond to legislative developments and rapid response requests from the Alliance for Citizenship policy table; assist in distributing rapid response requests to the women’s table and ensuring expedient and thorough follow-up from a women’s perspective
• Review and draft written analysis of proposed legislation for its effect on women and their families
• Draft legislative language, amendments, affirmative and defensive policy fact sheets, vote recommendations, statements of principles, and other written materials to support full inclusion of women in immigration reform
• Conduct educational meetings with Members of Congress to expand their understanding of the effects of immigration law, policies and practice on women and their families
• Help provide regular written and oral updates to communications and field campaigns to ensure their efforts are calibrated to policy development
• Other duties as assigned and agreed upon

HOW TO APPLY

Visit http://womensrefugeecommission.org/about/employment/1628-short-term-consultant-women-and-immigration-reform

Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until the consultancy is filled. We are seeking to fill this consultancy immediately.