Consultancy: Gender-sensitive analysis on violence and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (October-December 2024 )
Overview
About WFD
Since 1992, the primary aim of the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) has been to assist, support and encourage the peaceable establishment and development of pluralistic democratic practice and political institutions. We continue to believe that stronger democracy is the best way of safeguarding human rights and ensuring sustained prosperity and stability.
WFD (https://www.wfd.org) is the UK’s leading democracy assistance agency, working in partnership with political parties, parliaments and civil society organisations around the world to create more inclusive, accountable and transparent democratic systems. WFD strengthens the capacity of these key democratic institutions, helping ensure they have the systems, knowledge and skills to perform effectively. WFD also fosters improved democratic processes, bringing together individuals and institutions and encouraging them to work together to solve concrete problems, applying democratic values and principles.
WFD’s work on women’s political leadership1 considers the social, cultural, economic, and political factors that stop women from fully participating in politics and governance. We work with partners to develop systems and strategies that challenge and transform them. Our programmes help to embed gender analysis throughout all aspects of parliamentary business, support women's political leadership and end violence against women in politics.
Background to Gender-sensitive Political Economy Analysis (PEA)
WFD has commenced a women’s political leadership programme funded by Global Affairs Canada, working across Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia and Thailand in phase two of the programme. The objective of this 17-month programme is to advance equality in politics and wider society through creating a more enabling environment2 for politically active women3 to participate and exercise leadership in politics at national and local levels in these four countries and within the regional context of the Association of Southeast Asian Countries (ASEAN).
As part of this programme, WFD is updating the PEA for Thailand, which was first conducted in 2022. WFD aims to better understand the political, economic, and socio-structural factors that analyse the barriers to women’s political participation and leadership in Thailand, particularly violence against women in politics (VAWP)4 following Thailand’s 2023 General Election.
Through gender-sensitive PEA, WFD seeks to re-assess and update the country's context and identify emerging opportunities for programming areas to address the specific barriers in each country to progress women’s political leadership and participation. Country-level interventions and activities will be driven by context-specific gendered political economy analyses and will be adapted during implementation to respond to the findings of the research component.
Based on our previous works with women political leaders, online violence has been one of the key areas where women political leaders felt high level of violence and impact towards themselves. The negative impact has decreased public trust towards women political leaders, mental impact towards themselves and family members, physical impacts from handling the negative comments, and the research of Women’s Political Leadership in ASEAN region also found that the online violence came in forms of physical violence threats. Moreover, the online violence such as online stalking could also stimulate or lead to organised personal attack towards politicians. Therefore, WFD would like to gain more evidence and seek possibilities to understand the issues clearly, while having recommendations towards key stakeholders, especially the tech companies, to reduce or better handle online violence against women political leaders.
WFD is looking for a consultant(s) to update the PEA for Thailand, with a key focus on the situation and impact of TfGBV against women political leaders in Thailand after 2023 General Election, and the relevant legislations within Thailand and ASEAN.
Consultancy specifics
Roles of the consultant(s):
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To conduct a desk review and produce a brief paper on existing legal support and constraint on online gender-disinformation, and digital rights law in ASEAN.
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To conduct data collection on online violence against women political leaders in Thailand during 2023 General Election
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To lead an external briefing on online violence against women in politics during Thailand’s 2023 General Election and recommendations for legal support for relevant stakeholders.
The consultant(s) will:
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Demonstrate a deep understanding of the political and governance dynamics in Thailand, with thorough knowledge of the recent and ongoing democratic transition and political situation;
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Have worked in Thailand, with experience around issues of gender-based violence in politics, gender-based violence against women’s political leadership,
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Have excellent research, analytical and writing skills;
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Have an experience conducting research on online violence, technology facilitated gender-based violence (TfGBV), disinformation-misinformation, and knowledge on the current topics of impact of AI against political actors or other related issues;
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Have at least a master’s degree in political science, development or related field.
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Working professional fluency in English and Thai.
Main focuses for the PEA update, desk review and data collection on online violence against women after Thailand’s 2023 General Election:
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Provide existing legal framework that address the online violence against women in Thailand and ASEAN, with recommendations of ways forward,
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Provide evidence and summary of data collection on online gender-based violence, harassment and other technology-facilitated online gender-based violence (TfGBV) that has been experienced by women political leaders and its impact, available legal support or any support mechanism for women political leaders,
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Recommendations of potential solutions for stakeholders (political parties, parliament, CSOs, media, and other non-political stakeholders to reduce the impact of online gender-based violence, harassment and other TfGBV against women political leaders,
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Recommendations on legal framework, and advocacy with tech companies in Thailand and ASEAN.
Deliverables:
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Summary report (5-6 pages) containing the following key areas;
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Review WFD’s 2022 PEA for Thailand and update sections as required to reflect the new political landscape in 2024, taking into account the 2023 elections and post-election political developments
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Renew the analysis on existing barriers (structural, cultural and physical), challenges and needs from women political leaders in achieving equal participation at decision-making level,
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Online gender-based violence, harassment and other technology-facilitated online gender-based violence (TfGBV) that has been experienced by women political leaders and its impact, available legal support or mechanism for women political leaders,
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Recommendations of potential solutions for stakeholders (political parties, parliament, CSOs, media, and other non-political stakeholders to reduce the impact of online gender-based violence, harassment and other TfGBV against women political leaders,
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Recommendations on legal framework, and advocacy with tech companies.
2. Online violence data collection and analysis report covering during and post 2023 Election
Timeframe and Rate:
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It is anticipated that the desk review and data collection should take place between October-December 2024 with a deadline for the final submission no later than 23 December 2024.
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The overall budget cap for this consultancy is fixed at GBP 8,000 (eight thousand British pound sterling), or the equivalent value in local currency (Thai Baht).
The timeframe below lists the key tentative dates for the gender-sensitive PEA process. These will be agreed with the consultant(s), once secured.
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Activity |
Date |
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Call for applications |
30 September – 11 October 2024 |
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Deadline for applications |
11 October 2024 |
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Interviews with shortlisted applicants |
16 October 2024 |
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Starting date of the consultancy and meeting with WFD |
21 October 2024 |
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Submission of consultant’s workplan, including the general update structure and description data collection, main interlocutors for consultation/ interviews, and literature for desk review. |
25 October 2024 |
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Submission of first draft for review of gender-sensitive analysis and legal analysis |
12 December 2024 |
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WFD feedback to the first draft |
19 December 2024 |
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Submission of final version and presentation of online violence against women in politics data collection and analysis report |
23 December 2024 |
How to express your interest
Interested candidates (individuals or consultant teams) are invited to submit an expression of interest comprising:
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A cover letter of not more than 2 pages expressing how the experience, skills and competencies of the consultant(s) meet the above requirements,
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Written sample of the previous work in this area or report of a similar analysis. We welcome up to 2 (two) sample of your previous report or publication.
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Curriculum vitae of the lead consultant,
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Finance proposal including expected consultancy fee per day.
Please submit the above documents in English to Chompunut Chalieobun, Regional Programme Manager: chompunut.chalieobun@wfd.org and Cc. katchada.prommachan@wfd.org
Email Subject: WFD – Update Gender-Sensitive PEA
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and only shortlisted candidates will receive follow-up from WFD. If successful, candidates will need to pass WFD’s background check prior to signing a contract.
Closing Date: 11 October 2024
Interview: 16 October 2024