Mapping and Quality Assessment of GBV Response Services for Inclusion in the Referral Pathway

1. Introduction

Empathy for Life Integrated Development Association (ELiDA) is a women-led, non-for-profit, non-partisan, and board-led indigenous National Civil Society organization (CSO) established by Ethiopian Women in November 2008 and registered under the CSOs proclamation #1113/209 and granted with Certificate #1143. ELiDA envisions seeing socially responsible and productive citizens, who respect and actively protect human rights for all and who are meaningfully empowered to take part in the leadership and decision-making processes of the Country’s major societal aspects.

ELiDA, in partnership with Christian Aid (CA), is implementing a project titled “Integrated Prevention and Response to Violence against Women and Girls” in North Wollo, Amhara Region, Ethiopia, with financial support from UNTF-UN Women. One of the objectives of this project is to strengthen institutional capacities to address the needs of GBV survivors through the establishment of a functional and context-appropriate referral pathway. Accordingly, the project has established a referral pathway and provided a series of consecutive capacity-building trainings for GBV service providers, focusing on the survivor-centered approach, Psychological First Aid (PFA), and referral systems and protocols. The project now plans to conduct a mapping and quality assessment of GBV response services to determine their inclusion in the referral pathway, ensuring that survivors’ urgent needs are effectively met.

2. About the Mapping and Quality Assessment of GBV Response Services

ELiDA plans to conduct a Mapping and Quality Assessment of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Response Services to inform the development of a comprehensive and effective referral pathway that addresses the urgent needs of GBV survivors. The assessment aims to identify available GBV response services, evaluate their quality and accessibility, and determine potential areas for strengthening coordination among service providers.

The assessment will focus on the project’s three target woredas and North Wollo zone: Habru, Raya Kobo, and Kobo Town, North Wollo Zone and as well as 15 implementation kebeles within these woredas. The consultant is expected to employ a combination of primary and secondary data collection methods, including, but not limited to, key informant interviews (KIIs), focus group discussions (FGDs), and field assessments, to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the GBV response service landscape in the target areas.

3. Objectives

General Objective

To conduct a mapping and quality assessment of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response services within the target areas in order to develop a verified GBV service directory and referral pathway. The assessment will identify existing service providers, analyze their capacity and quality of service delivery, and determine their suitability for inclusion in a coordinated referral system that effectively responds to survivors’ urgent needs in a safe, accessible, and survivor-centered manner.

Specific Objectives

The specific objectives of the assessment are to:

• Identify and document existing GBV response services within the target areas, including health, psychosocial, legal, protection, and shelter services, in order to establish a comprehensive and up-to-date service directory.
• Assess the quality, accessibility, availability, and survivor-centeredness of GBV response services using standardized criteria such as confidentiality, safety, dignity, timeliness, informed consent, non-discrimination, and cultural sensitivity.
• Evaluate the operational capacity and referral readiness of service providers, including their ability to participate effectively in coordinated referral mechanisms and provide timely support to survivors.
• Determine which service providers meet the minimum standards required for inclusion in formal GBV referral pathways and identify service providers that require additional technical or capacity-building support.
• Analyze strengths, gaps, challenges, and opportunities within the existing GBV response system to improve coordination, accessibility, and quality of services for survivors.
• Provide practical and actionable recommendations to strengthen GBV response mechanisms, enhance inter-sectoral referral linkages, and promote survivor-centered best practices across all service providers.

4. Scope of the Assessment

To achieve the above objectives, the assessment will undertake a comprehensive review, mapping, and evaluation of existing Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response services within the designated target areas.

The scope of the assessment will include:

• Mapping available GBV response services and identifying key service providers across relevant sectors, including health, psychosocial support, legal aid, protection, shelter, and community-based support services.
• Assessing the quality, accessibility, inclusiveness, responsiveness, and survivor-centeredness of existing services, with particular attention to safety, confidentiality, ethical service provision, and accessibility for vulnerable and marginalized groups.
• Evaluating coordination and referral mechanisms among service providers to determine their effectiveness, functionality, and alignment with national and international GBV response standards.
• Determining the suitability and readiness of service providers for inclusion in formal GBV referral pathways to ensure timely, safe, confidential, and effective support for survivors.
• Identifying service gaps, duplication, geographical coverage limitations, and capacity constraints that may affect access to quality GBV response services.

5. Methodology

To achieve the objectives outlined in the scope of work, the consultant will employ a combination of primary and secondary data collection methods.

Primary Data Collection:

• Key informant interviews (KIIs) with GBV service providers, government stakeholders, community representatives, and relevant actors.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with community members and other relevant stakeholders, where appropriate and ethically feasible.
• Direct consultations and observation of service delivery environments where necessary.

Secondary Data Review:

• Review of existing reports, assessments, referral pathways, service directories, policies, protocols, and guidelines related to GBV response services.
• Review of national, regional, and sectoral GBV standards, frameworks, and referral mechanisms relevant to the assessment areas.

6. Key Deliverables

a. Inception Report covering – desk review, key methodologies, proposed sample size, and work-plan.

b. Assessment Tools – survey and interview questionnaires, etc. The consultant is expected to submit the draft version of the tools to ELiDA in advance, collect feedback, and finalize the tools, and should get approval from ELiDA to use them accordingly. The tools shall be sent to ELiDA while submitting the Inception Report.

c. First Draft Report: Following submission of the first draft, the consultant will engage with the ELiDA team to validate and refine the document.

d. Final Report of the Study – covering all components of the draft report, conclusion, recommendation, reference, and key annexes. ELiDA will also request the consultant to submit raw data as appropriate and deemed necessary to do so.

Minimum Required Qualifications, Experience, and Skills

• A Master’s degree or higher in Social Work, Gender Studies, Public Health, Sociology, Development Studies, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in gender-based violence (GBV) programming, protection, or social service mapping.
• Proven experience in conducting assessments, mapping exercises, or quality evaluations of GBV or other social services.
• Experience working in humanitarian or conflict-affected contexts is highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of GBV response services, referral pathways, and survivor-centered approaches.
• Competence in qualitative and quantitative research methods, including KIIs, FGDs, and document review.
• Ability to analyze data, prepare comprehensive reports, and provide practical recommendations.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, facilitation, and presentation skills.
• Familiarity with and contextual understanding of the research areas, including local social, cultural, and administrative dynamics within the target woredas and kebeles.

Preferred Qualifications

• Working knowledge of English (written and spoken). Competent user of Amharic.
• Understanding and commitment to employ ‘Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Harassment and Abuse’, ‘Do no harm’ and ‘Safeguarding’ principles in research processes.
• Team work oriented but with a capacity to work independently.
• Strong time management skills (meet deadlines).
• Committed to work maintaining ELiDA’s organizational core values.