CON 2025 012 | Gender Consultant - Women Inclusion in Peace and Security Mechanism

Nature of the consultancy:

The project overall aims to sustain the gains of joint peace efforts in Mindanao by supporting the operational capacity of the Joint Peace and Security Teams (JPSTs). The JPST is a unique transitional peace and security mechanism established as the result of the Bangsamoro peace process. It is an all-male composition representing the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP), Philippine National Police (PNP), and Moro Islamic Liberation Front - Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces (MILF-BIAF) transitioning combatants. The project will explore feasibility of women’s inclusion to JPSTs to enhance its operational effectiveness and improved access of community members, especially of women, to peacebuilding and conflict management services of the JPSTs. This will include working and consulting with the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC), JPSTs, relevant peace actors and traditional leaders to explore the scope, roles and contributions of women contingents to the JPSTs, and structural arrangements necessary for their inclusion and meaningful participation.

Project Context and Scope:

The JPST is the operational arm of the Joint Peace and Security Committee (JPSC) and was formed as the result of the 2014 Comprehensive Agreement for the Bangsamoro (CAB) signed between the Government of the Philippines (GPH) and MILF. It is a transitory mechanism composed of contingents from the AFP, PNP, and MILF-BIAF, established to operationalize the security component of the Normalization track of the CAB. The JPSTs are mandated to support the maintenance of peace, order, and stability of the mutually agreed areas by the GPH and MILF. At present, there are 24 JPST stations deployed and activated all over Mindanao specifically in the provinces of Maguindanao del Sur and Norte, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat province, Lanao del Sur and Norte, Zamboanga Sibugay, and Basilan. Guided by the results of the IOM research evaluation on the JPST in April 2023, findings reveal that the JPST has not only exhibited good practices in maintaining peace and security in their areas of coverage but, more importantly, built trust, confidence, and good relationship with the immediate and adjacent communities.

As the JPST continues to strengthen its community engagements and contribute to peacebuilding, there needs to continue improving their capacities. While the current JPSTs incorporate gender-sensitive and -responsive approaches to its peacekeeping, inclusion of women to the JPSTs can better facilitate protection of and engagement with women and girls in conflict situations, and handling of gender-sensitive cases in populations where the JPSTs are deployed. This would also foster leadership and participation of women personnel from the AFP, PNP, and the Bangsamoro Islamic Women Auxiliary Brigade (BIWAB).

Hence, this project will contribute to assessing the feasibility of deployment or augmentation of women contingents to the JPST station/s and identifying recommendations and sustainable measures to improve gender-inclusivity in roles and responsibilities of JPSTs. This may include conducting desk reviews of existing policies and operational practices of JPSTs, developing assessment tools, organizing consultations and assessment activities, and generating recommendation/exploratory paper based on the assessment.

Given the scope of the project, close coordination is essential particularly with the peace mechanisms of the 2014 CAB, including JPSC, Joint Normalization Committee (JNC), Joint Coordinating Committee on the Cessation of Hostilities (CCCH), and Ad Hoc Joint Action Group (AHJAG). Partnership and coordination with BARMM ministries, offices and agencies (MOAs) are also needed to ensure alignment and complementation to their existing peace and security initiatives in the same operational areas of the JPSTs. This includes the Bangsamoro Women Commission (BWC) as the mandated regional office providing policy oversight on gender inclusion and women, peace and security initiatives in BARMM; the Bangsamoro Human Rights Commission (BHRC) as the Gender Ombud; and Ministry of Public Order and Safety (MPOS) leading community Early Warning and Early Response (EWER) system in BARMM. Other BARMM MOAs such as Ministry of Social Services and Development (MSSD), Ministry of Interior and Local Government (MILG), and other institutions and structures with related roles in community protection and safety will also be engaged. The engagement may also include with relevant community leaders such as former women combatants and religious leaders. This coordinative relationship also ensures the sustainability of the capacity building support to the JPSTs beyond the project life and maximizing the JPSTs to directly contribute to existing peace and security initiatives of BARMM MOAs.

Organizational Department / Unit to which the Consultant is contributing:

IOM’s Peace, Transition and Recovery Unit in Cotabato Sub-Office 
 

Category B Consultants: Tangible and measurable outputs of the work assignment

General functions and responsibilities

Under the supervision of IOM’s PTRU, the technical consultant (Women Inclusion in Peace and Security Mechanism) will lead development of an exploratory study on the inclusion of women contingents (BIWAB, AFP and PNP) to the JPSTs. In collaboration with JPSC/T, appropriate peace process mechanisms, and relevant BARMM MOAs, the technical consultant will ensure incorporation of gender and women, peace and security lens, conflict and culture sensitivity, human rights, and protection principles and approaches in all deliverables/outputs and processes for the entire duration of engagement.

Specific functions and responsibilities

a.    Develop context and culture-appropriate tools, methods or designs for the exploratory study, in consultation with JPSC/T, including mapping of national and regional government institutions, duty-bearers, traditional, faith-based and women leaders, and other community and peace actors with vital insights and recommendations to women’s inclusion to the JPSTs;

b.    Conduct desk review, research, and interviews based on the agreed tool focusing on, but not limited to, scope, roles and contributions of women contingents to the JPSTs, potential challenges and recommendations to address these, strategies to facilitate women’s meaningful participation, and sustainability of the augmented women personnel and their expertise upon phasing out of the JPSTs;

c.    Design, manage and lead context and culturally appropriate community and stakeholder consultation-workshops on the feasibility of women inclusion to the JPSTs to generate recommendations, key lessons, and strategies for the inclusion of women in the JPSTs, improving women-inclusivity in roles and responsibilities of JPSTs;

d.    Produce quality and comprehensive analyses and key findings from the exploratory study, in consultation and validation with the JPSC, partner BARMM MOAs, and other relevant stakeholders. The exploratory study should include recommendations on the incorporation of IOM Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) framework and principles.

e.    Ensure alignment of the results and key findings of the exploratory study to other components of the project through, but not limited to, providing inputs on the designing of a women-friendly and inclusive JPST station in one two pilot stations and on the development of a JPST gender-responsive operational guidelines.

These services shall be provided by the consultant, working on a hybrid modality with frequent travel to project areas during a period of five months, starting from May to July 2025. Conduct of any face-to-face activities is understood to be subject to observance of applicable health protocols and to any movement restrictions that may be imposed by the Philippine government.

Deliverables are to be performed in accordance with the following indicative schedule and may adjust upon further deliberation:

First deliverable: Submission of inception report incorporating work plan and methodology/tool for the exploratory study and related activities (First Instalment Payment: 30%)

•     May 1-16, 2025 – desk research, inception report, preparatory meetings with the project team, JPSC/T, relevant peace process mechanisms and BARMM ministries, offices and agencies, and other key regional/national stakeholders
•     May 19, 2025 – submission and presentation of inception report and proposed tool/framework/methodology for the exploratory study

Second Deliverable: Conduct consultation and workshop activities and submission of draft exploratory study findings and recommendations on women’s inclusion to the JPSTs (Second instalment payment: 50%)

•     May 20-23, 2025 – preparations with project team, JPSC/T, and BARMM MOA partners for community and stakeholder consultations and workshops
•     May 26 to July 10, 2025– lead and facilitate phased consultations, workshops, focus group discussions and/or key informant interviews on women’s inclusion to JPSTs (community members and stakeholders in sample/select JPST stations, relevant peace process mechanisms, national and regional government institutions and duty-bearers)
•     July 11, 2025 – submission and presentation of preliminary findings and recommendations to IOM

Final Deliverable: Submission of the validated exploratory study on women’s inclusion to JPSTs and final report (Final Instalment payment: 20%)

•     July 14 to 18 2025 – submission, presentation and validation of the draft exploratory study (including challenges, needs and gaps, and list of recommendations on women inclusion) to JPSC and other relevant partners and stakeholders
•     July 21 to 25, 2025 – finalization of the validated exploratory study for final endorsement to JPSC, relevant peace process mechanisms, and partner BARMM MOAs
•     July 30, 2025 – submission of final report of the consultancy engagement including handover of data sets, photo documentation, and outputs of the relevant activities; start of M&E activities
•     July 31, 2025 – end of contract

The Consultant shall attend other online or in-person meetings with the IOM project team and/or stakeholders on an ad hoc basis, to provide updates on deliverables and to ensure alignment with other project components. The Consultant should be based in BARMM to support the conduct of the relevant project activities.
 

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results
•     Quality and timeliness of the expected deliverables (value of services rendered in relation to their cost)
•     Effective adaptation of thematic resources and information into materials and key messaging that are relevant to the target audience
•     Application of a results-based approach to the consultancy – i.e. deliverables are aligned with project objectives and contribute concretely to the overall impact of the project
•     Efficient coordination with the project team and all necessary stakeholders 
•     Strict adherence to ethical standards, including confidentiality and data protection
 

Education, experience and/or skills required
•     A minimum of Master’s degree in Gender Studies, Women, Peace and Security, Peace and Conflict Studies, Peace and Conflict Resolution, or other similar disciplines is required
•     At least ten years of specialized experience in the field of gender, WPS, and/or peace and development
•     At least two years of experience in conducting research studies, providing policy or programming advice and technical assistance on gender and WPS to government institutions is required, especially in post-conflict or emergency contexts
•     Strong background and demonstrated knowledge in gender and peace and security in the context of the Bangsamoro peace process particularly on Normalization
•     Excellent analytical skills and organizational skills, with proven capacities in community organizing, capacity-building, and stakeholder engagement and networking
•     Prior advocacy or research experience on women, peace and security and gender-responsive planning and programming in fragile contexts
•     Experience/familiarity with local gender and development and WPS policies and practices in BARMM and in Mindanao is preferred
•     For this position, fluency in English and Filipino is required. Knowledge of another BARMM local language is desirable.
 

Travel required

Expected local travel in project areas specifically in Maguindanao del Sur and Norte, Lanao del Norte and Sur, North Cotabato, Sultan Kudarat province, Basilan, and/or Zamboanga Sibugay

Competencies

Values

•     Inclusion and respect for diversity: respects and promotes individual and cultural differences. Encourages diversity and inclusion.
•     Integrity and transparency: maintains high ethical standards and acts in a manner consistent with organizational principles/rules and standards of conduct.
•     Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
•     Courage: demonstrates willingness to take a stand on issues of importance.
•     Empathy: shows compassion for others, makes people feel safe, respected and fairly treated.

Core Competencies – behavioural indicators

•     Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
•     Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action-oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
•     Managing and sharing knowledge: continuously seeks to learn, share knowledge and innovate.
•     Accountability: takes ownership for achieving the Organization’s priorities and assumes responsibility for own action and delegated work.
•     Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.