In June 2008, the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 1820, identifying conflict-related sexual violence as a core security challenge and an impediment to the maintenance of international peace and security. In September 2009, the Security Council adopted a follow on Resolution (1888) to advance implementation.  In December 2010, a third resolution on conflict-related sexual violence was passed by the Security Council which created a comprehensive monitoring and accountability architecture based around 4 pillars:

1. The establishment of monitoring, analysis and reporting arrangements (MARA) at country level.  (Provisional Guidance on the structure of the MARA was circulated to countries on the Security Council’s agenda in late July 2011) ;
2. A mandate to list parties credibly suspected of committing patterns of sexual violence in an annex to the S-G’s annual reports to the SC ;
3. Dialogue with parties to conflict to secure protection commitments, specifically commitments aimed to prevent and address sexual violence ;
4. Monitoring implementation of these commitments to leverage the credible threat of sanctions as a deterrent and incentive for behavioural change.

All three resolutions have highlighted the role played by the network UN Action Against Sexual Violence in Conflict (UN Action) in providing a platform for a coordinated, coherent response by the UN system to conflict-related sexual violence. The UN Action network unites the work of 13 UN system entities – DPA, DPKO, OCHA, OHCHR, PBSO, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNODC, UN Women, and WHO – with the goal of ending sexual violence during and in the wake of conflict.  Launched in March 2007, it represents a concerted effort by the United Nations to “work as one” and thereby improve coordination and accountability, amplify advocacy, and support country efforts to prevent conflict-related sexual violence and respond more effectively to the needs of survivors. In June 2007, the Secretary-General’s Policy Committee endorsed UN Action as “a critical joint UN system-wide initiative to guide advocacy, knowledge building, resource mobilization, and joint programming” around sexual violence in conflict.

The purpose of this consultancy is three-fold: (i) to enable the UN Action network and Office of the Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict (OSRSG-SVC) to support accelerated implementation of the MARA in  the selected countries of the DRC, CAR, Cote D’Ivoire and South Sudan; (ii) to undertake ad hoc reviews of conflict-related sexual violence, and to assess the UN’s response in selected situations of concern; and (iii) to assist with the design and implementation of Comprehensive Strategies to Combat  Sexual Violence in priority countries. An individual TOR will be developed for each country visit.  The first visit will probably take place in the DRC, where the consultant will assist the SV Unit to undertaking a full monitoring and evaluation of the Comprehensive Strategy to measure impact based upon the existing Action Plan and Results Framework developed in December 2009 (as recommended by the recent Independent Assessment of the Comprehensive Strategy.