Vacancy as a Consultant at ISEAN Hivos

ISEAN-Hivos – HIV/AIDS (MARPS) Round 10
EoI Number O-4: ISEAN-Hivos -GF-R10-HIV/AIDS
Issuance Date: 31st May 2012

ISEAN-Hivos-GF-R10-HIV/AIDS – “Operational Research on Transgenders Focusing on Country Definitions of TG and an Analysis of the TG Situation in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste” under the “Strengthening community systems to reduce vulnerability to and impact of HIV infection on MSM and TG in Insular Southeast Asia”
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST


Background:
In 2010, the Insular Southeast Asian Network on MSM, TG, and HIV (ISEAN) and the Humanist Institute for Co-operation with Developing Countries (Hivos) jointly submitted a regional proposal to the Global Fund for AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis (GFATM) Round 10. The programme, entitled ‘Strengthening Community Systems to Reduce Vulnerability to and Impact of HIV infection on MSM and TG in Insular Southeast Asia’, was approved by GFATM and contract for the grant was signed on 6 October, 2011. This grant has the main goal of reducing (a) the vulnerability and risks of MSM and TG to HIV infection and (b) the impact of HIV on their lives in Insular Southeast Asia. It intends to address critical gaps in supporting and scaling up activities that reduce HIV/AIDS among MSMs and TGs.

ISEAN, partnering with Hivos, as the Principal Recipient of the grant, is looking for a capable Consultant or Consultant Group/Research Organization to Conduct an “Operational Research on Transgenders Focusing on Country Definitions of TG and an Analysis of the TG Situation in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste”. Specifically, the following will be provided by the Consultant or Consultant Group/Research Organization to address the Grant’s requirements:
1. Develop a research proposal and work plan;
2. Conduct a thorough review of literature on the topic, focusing on South East Asia
3. Conduct interviews with key regional and international figures on TG concerns;
4. Conduct study visits to Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Timor Leste to describe:
a. Local TG Definitions (including definitions used in HIV-related surveillance)
b. Status of TG in 4 countries (both Male-to-Female and Female-to-Male TGs)
i. As a key population for HIV-AIDS (based on surveillances)
ii. Legal Context
iii. Social and Religious Context (social acceptance)
iv. Status in Workplaces / Education System
v. Status on TG Community Organizations and their activities
5. Documentation of experiences of TG (though FGDs, Key Informant Interviews);
6. Develop a series of draft reports and a final report; including recommendations for HIV-AIDS related interventions and community organizing of TGs; and
7. Coordinate with the ISEAN Hivos Program in the dissemination and/or publication of results;
A Transgender Reference Group under the ISEAN Secretariat has been formed to guide the overall direction of the project
Key Qualifications
1. Established expertise and academic background in social science and operational research;
2. Preferably with demonstrable track record of research publications related to HIV-AIDS and MARPs;
3. Preferably with base of operations in South East Asia (if an organization) or a resident of South East Asia (if an individual consultant)
4. With experience in conducting researches in one of the ISEAN-Hivos countries;
5. Familiarity with the concerns of TGs in the South East Asian context;
6. Fluency in written and spoken English;
7. Preferably familiar with the language of the 4 countries.
8. Preferably with experience working with Global Fund Programs;

The selected Consultant or Consultant Group/Research Organization will be engaged for a minimum of 20 days distributed within a two months period and to start in June, 2012. The selected applicant is expected to conduct travel to Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Timor Leste, in coordination with the ISEAN-Hivos SRs and partner organizations. Travel and related costs will be covered by the ISEAN-Hivos Program.

An Expression of Interest (EoI) letter, together with the applicant’s CV must be sent by June 15th, 2012 to the emails below at 17:00 hrs Jakarta/Western Indonesia Time
shah@isean.asia, t.repelita@hivos.or.id
Based on the initial set of EoIs, applicants shall be formally invited to complete their application through the submission of a concept note and indicative work plan.