1. SYNOPSIS

The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women) South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO), seeks to appoint an innovation or design thinking company to design and conduct ideathons aimed at generating innovative solutions from young people for preventing and responding to gender based violence on universities & colleges campuses. This will contribute to the following specific outcomes – i) Position young people as co-creators of solutions to preventing and responding to gender based violence on university and college campuses and; ii) Concrete innovative ideas to prevent and respond to gender based violence that can be tested and implemented on university and college campuses in South Africa and beyond.

UN Women SAMCO is hosting the Ideathons as a satellite session during the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) Youth Conference from 9 -11 June in Durban. It is anticipated that the ideathons will be conducted in the form of three workshops bringing students together facilitated by the selected design thinking company between 9 – 11 June 2017.

About the conference

The youth conference, a first for HEAIDS, is taking place under the theme “Ukuhlonyiswa Kwabasha” Empowering the youth in South Africa –Sharing innovative practices towards health education, health promotion, knowledge generation and capacity building amongst the youth within the post school sector. The aim of the conference is to engage with the scientific, social, economic and community based evidence, experience and lessons learned and share best practice and evidence based educational, academic, curriculum, health (structural, social HIV and general health and wellness) initiatives and interventions that are critical and relevant to the post schooling sector. The HEAIDS National Youth Conference has become an established barometer of the issues confronting the youth in South Africa both in the post schooling sector and community at large.

About UN Women

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (MCO) covers SACU countries: Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, South Africa and Swaziland.

UN Women has multiple initiatives on Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls (EVAW/G). To accelerate delivery on prevention of EVAW/G and promoting WEE, UN Women SAMCO seeks to develop innovative solutions with potential to assist with preparedness, prevention, protection and or response to violence and recovery of survivors on universities and colleges campuses.

1. BACKGROUND

Sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) is an increasingly recognised problem in schools and campuses all over the world. In South Africa, the issue of SGBV in tertiary institutions has come under spotlight in recent years, fuelled by student protests demanding their schools or campuses to take the problem seriously, especially the perceived leniency towards perpetrators. However, prevention of and response to SGBV at higher education institutions (HEIs) has in many instances been inadequate.

In Southern Africa, universities and colleges have become characterised as places of fear, daily insecurity and vulnerability for many women and a contributing cause of high female dropout rates[1][2]. Only 40% of staff and students in South Africa felt female students were safe from sexual harassment at their institution.[3] Instances of rape and sexual harassment are typically kept under wraps, with data on levels of reporting sketchy at best. The notion of ‘rape culture’ as common nomenclature at universities highlights the extent to which rape has become normalized in many women’s university experiences.

Aside from its psycho-social impact on young women and that it is a human rights violation undermining their dignity, health and freedom, SGBV on university campuses also fuels risk to HIV infection and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as well as unwanted pregnancies. It is globally recognized and documented that SGBV remains a serious challenge to campus security and educational opportunity for students, and women in particular, across the world.

Evidence[4] shows that effective interventions employ multiple methods, at multiple levels, with multiple actors (including men and boys) and in multiple sectors (schools, universities, communities, family/relationship and individual level), in a complementing manner. It is therefore crucial that duty bearers take this issue seriously and integrate their interventions into national policies on violence against women and girls. 

Addressing the challenge also requires an effective and coordinated institutional response as well as a change in norms and attitudes, particularly of men. Gender Based Violence interventions mainly focus on response and support with little attention to prevention, especially primary prevention. Most actors continue to use traditional methods of programming yet the changing global context requires adaptation and innovation including using technology.

UN Women South Africa Multi-Country Office (SAMCO) working with partners including the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) would like to contribute to the development and implementation of innovative solutions to prevent sexual and gender based violence (SGBV) in post-schooling education and training centres. This requires a process of co-creating the innovative solution(s) with students, academia, subject experts, innovation experts and other stakeholders.

1. OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

To create a space to bring the knowledge, experience and creativity of students to come up with innovative solutions including use of technology to prevent and respond to the challenge of gender based violence on universities and colleges campuses. This will be synthesised into a compendium of possible solutions for addressing gender based violence.

1. PROJECT SCOPE

The project will be rolled out in two phases: The first phase is for the company to design and conduct ideathons for harnessing innovative solutions for preventing and responding to gender based violence on universities and colleges campuses. This will be done during a Youth Conference hosted by the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) Youth Conference from 9 -11 June in Durban.  The second phase will involve testing the applicability and implementation of the solutions at targeted campuses. This may change depending on the outcomes of the first phase.

This Terms of Reference concerns the first phase and the specific tasks are outlined in section 5 that follows. Depending on performance, the company may be requested to partner with UN Women in the roll out of the second phase.

1. KEY DELIVERABLES

The design thinking or innovation company will facilitate three ideathons between 9 – 11 June hosted by the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment (UN Women) South Africa Multi-Country Office during the Higher Education and Training HIV/AIDS Programme (HEAIDS) Youth Conference from 9 -11 June in Durban.

4.1 Specific tasks include:

4.1.1 Design a programme and module for conducting the ideathon for harnessing creative solutions including use of technology, from young people primarily, and other partners to prevent and respond to gender based violence on universities and college campuses. (4 days)

4.1.2 Facilitate three ideathons between 9 – 11 June 2017 in Durban on the sidelines of the HEAIDS Youth Conference based on the programme and module. (5 days)

4.1.3 Conduct two follow up sessions at two selected campuses. These will be identified in consultation with UN Women and partners.

4.1.4 Compile a curated compendium of creative solutions to prevent and respond to gender based violence presented by students during the period that can be tested and applied on university and college campuses in South Africa and beyond. (5 days)  

4.1.5 Develop a proposal for testing and implementing solutions shortlisted by the design company working with UN Women SAMCO, students and strategic partners. This is dependent on the outcome of the ideathons. (3 days).

4.1.6 Compile and submit a project report sharing process, lessons learnt and outcomes of the project. (1 day)

4.2 Key deliverables

4.2.1 A programme and module that is signed off by UN Women for conducting the ideathon for harnessing creative solutions including the use of technology from young people primarily, and other partners to prevent and respond to gender based violence on universities and college campuses

4.2.2 Three successful ideathons are held between 9 – 11 June 2017 in Durban on the sidelines of the HEAIDS Youth Conference based on the programme and module. UN Women will handle the logistics of the invites, venue and refreshments. The design company will facilitate their own travel.

4.2.3 Two successful follow up ideathons held at two selected campus environments.

4.2.3 A curated compendium of creative solutions to prevent and respond to gender based violence presented by students during the period that can be tested and applied on university and college campuses in South Africa and beyond.

4.2.4 A proposal for testing and implementing the solutions shortlisted by the design company working with UN Women SAMCO, students and strategic partners. This is dependent on the outcome of the ideathons.

4.2.5 A project report sharing the tools, process, lessons learnt and outcomes of the project.

1. RESPONSIBILITIES

Support provided by UN Women

• UN Women will procure the venue and refreshments for the ideathons.
• UN Women and partners will mobilise the youth to attend the ideathons (The appointed company and UN Women will agree on capacity for each session).
• UN Women will provide oversight for the execution of the project.

The appointed company will

• Arrange their own travel to and accommodation in Durban for the Conference.
• Purchase the stationery and material to ensure smooth running of the session.
• Be professional in their conduct with the students.
• Be accountable for the production of the deliverables

   

1. BUDGET

The design thinking or innovation company is expected to submit a budget for consideration as part of their proposal. The cost should include:

• Project personnel’s time.
• All item costs related to the development of the programme and module for conducting an ideathon for harnessing creative solutions, including use of technology, from young people to prevent and respond to gender based violence on universities and college campuses.
• Travel and accommodation costs. Please, note that consultant will be responsible for direct payment of their travel and accommodation costs.
• The required stationery and materials to ensure smooth running of the ideathons.

   

1. TIMEFRAME

The design thinking or innovation company is expected to start working on the project as soon as the contract has been finalised and signed. It is anticipated that the process of ideating with young people, curating and compiling the concrete innovative ideas to prevent and respond to gender based violence that can be tested and implemented on university and college campuses as specified in section 4 will take a maximum of 15 days. This should be completed by 31 July 2017.

1. QUALIFICATIONS - SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

The company’s profile should demonstrate:

• Experience and specialist skills in innovation and creative thinking. The ability to facilitate creative solutions for challenging social problems will be an added advantage.
• Experience in use of technology for solving social problems. This will be a distinctive advantage.
• An understanding of youth and development.
• Should have experience and a progressive understanding of the challenges facing South Africa in achieving equality, protecting human rights and achieving human development.
• Integrity by showing consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women.

   

Lead personnel of the project should:

• Possess a Master’s Degree in Social Science, Social enterprise, Information Technology,

  Gender or Law or related fields.

• Should have at least five years’ experience in training and curriculum development.
• Should have a good understanding of youth and or gender. Understanding the issue of gender based violence will be an added advantage.
• Ability to lead formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of innovation projects

1. EXPRESSION OF INTEREST/HOW TO APPLY

Interested applicants should apply through email to [email protected] with the words “Design thinking company – Campus GBV’. The application will close on 02 June 2017.

1. CRITICAL INFORMATION ON KEY EXPECTATIONS AT APPLICATION

1. The application should include a detailed CV of the project leader, profile of other team members if any, and a motivation letter on how the company meets the criteria set out.
2. A proposal indicating key milestones for executing the consultancy (5 pages max.). This should include a skeletal draft programme for conducting the ideathon. 
3. Samples of past work and/or proof of experience cited in the application may be requested as part of the selection process.
4. The cost structure should be inclusive and as detailed as possible.
5. Contact details of at least two references must be included.

Disclaimer: Any material arising from the consultancy shall be the property of UN Women.