Job Description

Title: Consultant for Development of Political Economy Analysis (PEA) and Gender Analysis (GA)

Company Name: Counterpart International

Vacancy: 01

Job Location: Dhaka

Employment Status: Contractual

Educational Requirements:
∎ Master of Social Science (MSS)
∎ Must have minimum master's degree in Political Science, Public Policy, Public Administration, Political Economics, Development Studies, International Relations, Law or related field.
∎ Skills Required: Development Research

Experience Requirements:
∎ At least 15 year(s)
∎ The applicants should have experience in the following area(s): Research and Consulting Firms

Job Context:
∎ The Promoting Advocacy and Rights (PAR) project, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the United Kingdom Agency for International Development (UKAID) aims to strengthen the enabling environment for sustained civil society institutions advancing democratic governance and citizen participation in Bangladesh. The project seeks to contribute to a more inclusive, resilient, and evidence-driven Bangladeshi civil society. The key objectives of the project are to: strengthen Civil Society Capacity to Effectively Advocate for Improved Democratic Governance, and establish Cross-Sectoral Partnerships to Improve Government Responsiveness to Citizen Needs.
∎ To achieve these objectives, it is important to understand the "rules of the game" in the formal and informal sector, power and the processes of contestation and bargaining between economic and political elites, interests of different groups and how these interests impact development outcomes, at times to the detriment of broader development objectives. In 2018, the project conducted a baseline political economy analysis (PEA) and a gender analysis (GA) focusing on the current operating environment for civil society actors and opportunities to promote good governance. These reports need to be updated factoring in the developments that have taken place since their initial drafting.
∎ The purpose of these reports is to identify the political context, including competing interests, priorities, and power dynamics at the national and sub-national levels that may impact civil society`s advocacy efforts in five priority issues: drug abuse, gender-based violence, environmental pollution, economic opportunity and unplanned urbanization. In addition, the reports will identify formal (e.g. ministries, public officials, legal frameworks, etc.) and informal power structures (e.g. social norms, public perceptions, etc.) that may impact advocacy initiatives; challenges and risks that civil society actors may face, which will be used by Counterpart to inform technical training for civil society actors; opportunities to expand civil society`s space for engaging the government; and research and policy organizations (e.g. academic institutions, think tanks, research organizations) that can be integrated in this program to advance good governance initiatives as key influencers in policy reforms.
∎ Building on work performed by PAR`s research partner, PAR requires the expertise of a local consultant who is well-versed in the local Bangladeshi context, and has extensive experience in conducting high-quality, evidence-based analyses - particularly at the sub-national level to effectively demonstrate changes in political context and the role of gender in the socio-economic context, with the goal of informing future programming implemented by the PAR program. The consultant will be expected to provide significant technical input, revision, and objective recommendations to PAR`s program design, where appropriate.

Job Responsibilities:
∎ Role of Consultant
∎ The Consultant will apply USAID 's Thinking and Working Politically (TWP) through Applied Political Economy Analysis framework, along with guidance from USAID's ADS Chapter 205 "Integrating Gender Equality and Female Empowerment in USAID's Program Cycle. These frameworks will be applied in shaping the structures, contents, and analysis of the PAR PEA and GA.
∎ As the lead technical writer of the PEA and GA, the Consultant will:
∎ Review and identify current events (e.g. recent legislature, public decrees, or public debates) that impact civil society's ability to promote good governance.
∎ Provide research and analysis on five broad issues (drug abuse, gender-based violence, environmental pollution, economic opportunity and unplanned urbanization), highlighting relevant legislation; areas for improving enforcement or implementation of policies; individuals, organizations and public officials to engage for advocacy initiatives; historical factors and sociological considerations that have influenced these issues; and recommendations for civil society to pursue advocacy efforts at the national and sub-national levels.
∎ Select, conceptualize and provide comprehensive analysis of the five key issues and general political changes and draw the big picture / key actors and seemingly intangible forces that contribute to the problem, and update in primary political economy analysis document
∎ Identify both institutional and individual actors who could act as champion for reform
∎ Identify the formal and informal institutions that have shaped and are expected to shape the Bangladesh political context - the cultural dynamics, historical context, political considerations) that influenced the aforementioned actors' behavior and their incentives, relationships, power dynamics, etc.
∎ Identify changing dynamics in gender legislation or items which advance or hinder the full integration of all genders into society, and update gender analysis according to findings
∎ Identify shifting power dynamics influenced the issues identified
∎ Consider impact of how the political context affects how civil society organizations might want to (re)consider their advocacy approaches based on shifting cultural, social or political trends
∎ Connect the findings with PAR project activities. For example, consider how the different interest groups may also affect CSO's capacity to network / develop coalitions to address this issue, how has this issue affected the way civil society actors engage with the government and vice-versa, etc.
∎ Explain any additional contextual factors that might impact PAR
∎ Methodology:
∎ The Consultant will be expected to undertake the following steps in the update of the PEA and GA:
∎ -Develop research plan: Review the aforementioned USAID frameworks and review the existing PEA and GA. Prepare a detailed plan to update them and review other background documents.
∎ -Assess needs: Review the updates and revisions that have already been done by IRC. Conduct discussions with PAR project staff, IRC staff and other partner staff
∎ -Data collection: Conduct Key Informants Interviews (KII). The interviewees will be either from Dhaka or invited from outside or a combination of both.
∎ -Update PEA/GA: Provide a written draft of updates.
∎ -Revise and finalize: Work with Counterpart's technical experts to further refine and finalize the draft for submission to donors.

Additional Requirements:
∎ Have at least 15 years' experience in international development, with a focus on political economy, law, and/or public administration.
∎ Have extensive experience in social science research
∎ Show understanding of the Bangladesh political and legal systems
∎ Show a track record of previous research and publications on governance, policy advocacy, or related topics
∎ Experience in political and economic analysis
∎ Experience in qualitative and quantitative analysis and evaluation
∎ Demonstrated skill in writing research reports
∎ Experience of working with democratic governance is a plus
∎ Proven expertise in gender analysis and commitment to gender equality

Salary:
∎ Negotiable
∎ N/A

Application Deadline: October 26, 2019

Company Information:
∎ Counterpart International
∎ Address : House – 11, Road – 54A, Gulshan -2, Dhaka - 1212
∎ Web : www.counterpart.org
∎ Business : Counterpart International helps people build better lives and more durable futures, community by community. We equip individuals, organizations, communities, and networks -our counterparts- to become solution creators in their own families, communities, regions and countries. We help communities identify and map complex challenges; develop durable social partnerships; implement innovative, scalable, and sustainable solutions; and generate lasting impact.
For more information on Counterpart, please visit our website at www.Counterpart.org.

`Counterpart International strongly believes in equal opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, veteran`s status, age, marital status, sexual preference, disability or any other protected personal characteristic.`


Category: Research/Consultancy