1. Background:

In Bangladesh where non-normative gender and sexual behaviour is stigmatised and in many cases criminalised, gender diverse communities are left vulnerable to violence and discrimination. No laws expressly prohibit discrimination or harassment based on gender identity or sexual orientation. However, the Law Commission of Bangladesh, together with the Bangladesh National Human Rights Commission, has prepared a Draft Anti-Discrimination Law that expressly addresses the rights of the hijra community (a socio-cultural identity of transgender and intersex people who live in groups).

Consequently, invisibility has been the norm for all including the hijra community. Newly emerging organisations and initiatives are beginning to break this silence, with key allies among health and rights advocates. The State recognition of the hijra community has created new opportunities for advocacy and engagement on rights. The gender diverse movement has been on the rise, demanding recognition and realisation of their rights, and the barriers that they face in their everyday lives, both within the society and from the State.

In this backdrop, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) is implementing a project titled ‘Legal Empowerment and Gender Diversity’ supported by US Department of State.

2. Project Objectives:

The overall objective of this project is to increase opportunities for making claims and seeking access to justice for gender diverse communities (GDC) in Bangladesh against discrimination and rights violations.

The program has the following two specific and related objectives:

• To increase capacity of gender diverse communities to identify and safely and securely claim remedies against discrimination and rights violations, and
• To increase opportunities for gender diverse communities to join forces with key actors in the rights movement in Bangladesh to highlight discrimination and rights violations.

3. Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of the assignment is to conduct a mapping to develop a directory of service providers which will be a resource book for the gender diverse communities and community leaders and staffs. The resource book will also highlight the practical challenges and discrimination faced by gender diverse people in real life in relation to access to services, and rights within the family, in personal relationships and public sphere.

4. Objectives of the Assignment

The objectives of the assignment are;

• To conduct a mapping of the service providers for gender diverse communities;
• To develop a directory of the service providers in order to develop a resource book for gender diverse communities;
•  To assess the practical challenges and discrimination faced by gender diverse people in real life in relation to access to services, and rights within the family and in personal relationships.

5. Scope of work:

• Review project related documents and any other background documents.
• Develop proposal and inception note for the assessment. This will include a timeline, methodology and workplan.
• Discuss and agree on the methodology including the approaches with Project Team;
• Participate in consultation meetings on the assignment with the Project Team;
• Collect and analyse information and prepare a draft mapping report;
• Arrange a debriefing session for the Project Team;
• Generate a final report of the mapping including a resource book (after incorporating feedback from the Project Team) against the study objectives.

6. Methodology:

The assignment shall adopt explorative and qualitative methods to collect information from both primary and secondary sources. The consultant/agency require to propose detail methodology of the assignment.

7. Deliverables:

• Inception report, including the method and data collection approaches
• Implementation plan agreed with Project Team
• Detailed mapping of the service providers
• Draft report including draft resource book
• Final report including final resource book

8. Timeline:

            60 working days from middle of January to March 2018

9. Payment Schedule

20% on submission of inception report and detail plan of action.
30 % on submission and acceptance of detailed plan and methodology.
70% on submission and acceptance of the final report.

10. Expected competencies of consultant/agency
 
It is expected that the competency of the contracted agency/consultant/s will include:

• At least 7 years of experiences in research and evaluation especially in the area of gender diverse communities, SRHR, GVB and Social Protection.
  
• Sound knowledge on public and private service providers in the field of SRHR, GVB and social protection programs etc.
  
• Experience in working with gender diverse communities will be an advantage. 
  
• Strong analytical and report writing skills.

11. Submission of Proposal

The interested consultant/agency are requested to submit a detail proposal outlining:
a) Agency profile/CVs of the consultant
b) Experience in similar kind of assignment
c) Detail proposal including methodology and timeframe
d) Financial proposal.

12. Criteria for consultant/agency selection:

13. Disclaimer

BLAST reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals without assigning any reason what so ever. It can also reserves the right to terminate the contract if it is not satisfied with the performance, such as quality and progress of the work. In case of termination payment will not be made. Copyright of the Report and Resource Book will remain with the BLAST. 

14. How to Apply

• Consultant/s/agency that meet the requirements outlined above are invited to submit detail technical proposals including financial plan with a cover letter to the office of BLAST
• Apply under the subject line of ‘Conducting a Mapping of Service Providers Working for the Gender Diverse Communities to Develop a Resource Book’ with your name and contact details (including the email address).
• Deadline: 25 January 2018 not later than 5:00pm
Submit to purchase@blast.org.bd addressing Advisor-Management, BLAST