Consultant, Social Anthropological Study

Social Anthropological study of protection concerns facing Congolese refugees in Nyarugusu Refugee Camp, Tanzania

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) responds to the world’s worst humanitarian crises and helps people to survive and rebuild their lives. Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC offers lifesaving care and life-changing assistance to refugees forced to flee from war or disaster. At work today in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, we restore safety, dignity and hope to millions who are uprooted and struggling to endure. The IRC leads the way from harm to home.

Context

Nyarugusu Camp was created in 1996 by the UNHCR and the Tanzanian government in response to the needs of thousands of Congolese fleeing violence in South Kivu. The camp, which is located in Kasulu district, North-western Tanzania, is currently home to nearly 65,000 Congolese refugees, 52% of whom are women and 48% of whom are children. The IRC, supported by UNHCR, UNICEF and PRM, currently works to provide education, build livelihoods and promote the protection of women and children. The IRC’s protection programs have identified a number of protection concerns that may be rooted in the social, cultural and religious norms of the Kivus but that may also be reactions, adaptations or coping strategies to the camp environment. These include child compensation (particularly girl children), high rates of domestic violence, and rape. The IRC is keen to have a better understanding of the root causes of these protection concerns in order to respond to them more effectively.  

Purpose and Questions of Importance

The primary protection concerns to be addressed include child compensation (particularly girl children), and high rates of domestic violence and rape. The IRC is commissioning this study in order to better understand the root causes/contributing factors of these protection concerns, taking into account social norms/beliefs. Within this process we want to consider the influence of humanitarian response on the current social environment of the refugee camp. By the end, the IRC expects the consultant to be able to collaborate with program staff, the technical unit at IRC headquarters and UNHCR to generate initial recommendations for improving programming geared towards addressing these concerns.

The study will help us understand:

What are the social norms and/or beliefs governing these practices in the camp?To what extent does the socio-cultural camp context mitigate or exacerbate protection concerns and/or these practices?How could our programming use information about these social norms/and or beliefs to mitigate the negative protection consequences of these practices?What are alternative approaches to these practices that are culturally acceptable and do not raise the same protection concerns in a camp setting?

To this end, the IRC is searching for a consultant qualified to design and execute a study that will investigate the root causes and main contributing factors of the protection concerns in Nyarugusu Camp and how the camp context has influenced the ways that these protection concerns manifest. The consultant is expected to spend significant time inside the camp, speaking with refugees and other stakeholders. The consultant will present initial findings to the IRC and UNHCR at key junctures during the study. The consultant will also develop a report which presents and analyses the findings. The consultant will work with program staff and IRC’s technical unit to make recommendations as to how certain protection concerns could be prevented or which changes in service delivery might foster an improved protection environment in Nyarugusu.

We are seeking for a qualified and experienced anthropologist fluent in Swahili or French language, with expertise in the societal norms and cultural practices of people in the South Kivu. Familiarity with refugee camp settings and an understanding of protection concerns, including gender-based violence in refugee camp settings and of international humanitarian programmatic approaches are strongly preferred.

Deliverables:

Produce a comprehensive report outlining the following:

Findings of primary research on protection issues and a detailed exploration of the questions posed above.Findings of verification of  protection practices of concern in South KivuRecommendations for appropriate programming approaches and responses on protection issues.

Timeframe:   Approximate length of time estimated at 4 months; study to be conducted between March and June 2014.

Social Anthropological Study Timeline

Consultant travel to Tanzania – 1st week of MarchMeeting with Partners – 2nd week of MarchTravel to Kasulu– 2nd week of MarchBriefing with Kasulu staff – 2nd week of MarchCamp assessment – 2nd week of March to 3rd week of JuneDebriefing with Tanzania staff – 4th week of JuneInitial report compilation – 4th week of JuneDeparture from Tanzania – 4th week of June

View the original article here