Terms of Reference (ToR)

Study on
‘Violence against women (VAW) including girls of Dalits and Adibashis who are living in the plainlands and affected by the COVID pandemic situation’.

Background:

In the backdrop of long-term systemic barriers to legal recourse, protection, and social services, Dalit and Adibashi women and girls are already vulnerable of violence against them by the local goons who want to grab their lands. Moreover, they face violence within their family, because they have become victims of domestic violence while locked down with their abusers, as unpaid caregivers in families and communities. Also, in the pandemic, as the local security agency’s concentration is more focused on COVID response and enforcing lockdown, the thug and goons have become more aggressive towards the Dalit and Adibashi communities especially against the women and girls. The levels of violence and insecurity that Dalit women experience in home and outside are rarely matched with others. Dalit women face discrimination, exclusion, and violence as a result of both their caste and gender.

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, violence and harassment against plainlands Adibashis and Dalits women has taken a violent shape as D/A communities in Bangladesh are having hard times due to the absence of work, income, food. . The pandemic has had a disproportionate impact on people, especially because of their gender, disabilities, ethnicities, socio-economic class, race, age, etc. Dalit and Adibashi women are now facing a great challenge because the violence against women and girls has been increasing during the Covid-19 pandemic though the Government of Bangladesh has already formulated the Women and Children Repression Prevention Act 2000, and Domestic Violence (Prevention and Protection) Act 2010 on this regard. During the pandemic, a large number of both village and less privileged urban women and Dalit teenage girls have been forcefully married off.

HEKS/EPER intends to commission a study of which the overall purpose is to understand the scenario in detail on the violence against women/girl’s situation during the pandemic and in the context of Dalit and Adibashis living in the plainlands.

Specific objectives of the study:

The study will be commissioned with the following purposes but not limited to –

  • Prepare a narrative report finding impacts of ‘Violence against women/girls considering the context of D/A and suggest recommendations targeting long-term development commitments made by the Government of Bangladesh.
  • Depict the scenario and risk factors that have devastating impact of violation on women/ girls emerging due to COVID-19 pandemic and find out the protective factors so, the study report can be used as the model for the future interventions. in details on ‘Violence against Dalit and Adibashi women and girls living in the plainland’ with the presence of facts and figures;
  • Having specific recommendation on sensitizing the Government and to advocate the relevant Govt. authorities to take tangible and necessary actions for ethnic minorities and Dalit communities particularly for women & girls.

How to apply:

Interested individual/Firm must submit the following documents along with Technical & Financial Proposal:

  • Technical & Financial Proposal.
  • Consultant’s CV (maximum 2 pages) highlighting related assignment completed, roles in the completed assignment, contract person with e-mail & mobile number or Maximum 2 pages firm profile highlighting related assignment completed including client name, contract person, e-mail, and cell number.
  • Individual Profile (maximum 300 words).
  • Copy of NID, TIN Certificate, trade license, VAT registration.

Application Instruction:

Interested person/ agencies/ consultant farms are requested to submit the proposal (both technical and financial) and documents in a sealed envelope on or before 5:00 PM, 24 June 2021 to:

HEKS/EPER, House # 28, 2nd Floor, Road # 11, Dhanmondi R/A, Dhaka-1209
The Envelop must be marked with the title of the assignment. Complete applications should also be submitted electronically.

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