Local research consultant Consultant to co-lead the research on the impact of war at WFD

Terms of Reference for the Local research consultant Consultant to co-lead the research on the impact of war on parliamentarians

Theme: War, trauma, effective parliaments, members of parliaments, gender and conflict transformation, peacebuilding, Women, Peace and Security, inclusion & equality

Westminster Foundation for Democracy

Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD) is the UK’s democracy assistance agency, working in partnership with political parties, parliaments, and civil society organisations around the world to create more inclusive, accountable, and transparent democratic systems. WFD strengthens the capacity of these key democratic institutions, helping ensure they have the systems, knowledge, and skills to perform effectively. WFD also fosters improved democratic processes, bringing together individuals and institutions and encouraging them to work together to solve concrete problems, applying democratic values and principles.

Background and rationale of the research

War is an out-of-the-ordinary, violent and traumatic experience. Numerous studies highlight the immediate and long-term, often devastating, diverse and gendered impacts of war on all members of society, women and men, civilians and combatants alike. The war-related physical and psychological abuse and violence caused by an aggressor may not always result in war-related trauma. However, it undoubtedly shapes the attitudes, behaviours, priorities, decisions and, coping and resilience mechanisms of individuals and affected groups/societies. The effects of war are pervasive and long-term. They persist beyond the signing of a ceasefire or peace agreement infiltrating all dimensions of post-war life.

Politicians are not immune to the impact of war. In times of crisis caused by war, they are expected to actively and effectively manage the situation due to the existential risks, while at the same time, trying to survive like the rest of population. During wartime, while decision[1]making power often consolidates around the executive branch, members of parliaments (MPs) remain important political stakeholders. Decisions MPs make in their public roles influence the lives of women and men, civilians and combatants alike, in both war and post[1]war contexts. Their personal and professional experience of war, sometimes combined with frontline experience, will influence their political behaviour and decisions. Consequently, their well-being and performance are critical for the effectiveness of one of the key state institutions. It is therefore essential to investigate the impact of war on parliamentarians given the role they play in decision-making processes that affect individual citizens and the nation/communities in the short-, medium- and long-term.

The impact of war is gendered. War exacerbates gender norms and roles, often reinforcing existing gender binaries and inequalities. To examine how war-related violence affects MPs 2 differently based on gender and other identity factors we must apply gender and intersectional lenses. This research will apply these lenses in investigating how war impacts women and men MPs and how their experiences shape their political agendas, priorities, and behaviours.

The methodology and scope:

The primary research objective is to generate evidence and provide a deeper understanding of the gendered impact of war on the political behaviour of parliamentarians in Ukraine, and subject to funding. It will be a medium-scale project using qualitative exploration (Key Informant Interviews). Diverse women and men parliamentarians will be the primary informants.

The research will be conducted by a mixed team of international and local researchers. The bespoke methodology for this exploratory research will be developed by an international research lead. Wherever possible, the interviews will be conducted in person by local researcher(s) to ensure cultural sensitivity and contextual understanding. The report will be co-authored by a local and international expert.

Specific research objectives:

1. Understand the Gendered Impact of War on MPs. This research will generate evidence and enhance understanding of how war affects women and men MPs as both individuals and political actors during and after wartimes. There is ample evidence documenting how unprocessed traumatic war experiences impede the performance of public duties by MPs, consequently affecting the overall effectiveness of parliaments. By understanding their physical, psychological, and political experiences, we can better design interventions that support them and their constituencies during and after conflict. This research will document the resilience and coping mechanisms that MPs develop during conflict.

2. Analyse the impact on political priorities as well as which priorities get traction, and which are rejected and why: The research will explore how MPs’s experience of war shapes their political priorities and agendas and the political parties they belong to. It will also look at which priorities get political endorsement, and which are sidelined and why. Understanding these questions is critical in understanding the dynamics shaping the political agenda during war times. They are also critical from recovery and reconstruction processes. Given MPs direct relationship with voters they are critical in ensuring that no one is left behind and policies and legislation result in building a prosperous society. The findings will help with identifying opportunities to mitigate against the impact of war-related violence caused by an aggressor on society and build a peaceful and violence-free society while using gender and conflict transformative approaches.

3. Assess MPs’ relationship with voters. This study will assess how the war affected the relationship between MPs and voters, shaping political priorities as well as supporting MPs in prioritising and responding to their needs during the war times.

4. Assess gender and conflict transformative potential. This study will assess whether and how parliamentarians have utilised the gender-transformative potential of war to challenge male-dominated power structures and to promote gender equality in conflict and post-conflict political settings.

The research will result in a report highlighting the gendered impact of war on the priorities and political behaviours of MP. The national case studies will be co-authored by local and international researchers and will not be longer than 40 pages will be produced by the research lead to provide overarching insights and conclusions). It will also provide recommendations for the parliament of Ukraine and other stakeholders (including the international community) on how to better engage with MPs and their political agendas during war and post-war period to ensure gender and conflict transformational impact and that no one is left behind.

Key research outcomes:

1. Evidence on the physical and psychological well-being of and coping mechanisms developed by women and men parliamentarians.
2. Insights into how war shapes MPs’ political priorities and which of those priorities get political traction, and which are rejected and why.
3. Understanding of how relationships between MPs and voters change during wartime, and this shapes political agendas.
4. Recommendations for integrating gender-transformative approaches into national legislations and policies, and post-war plans.

Findings will be used to inform WFD’s programming in conflict and post-conflict contexts to ensure that our interventions are responsive to the needs of MPs and their constituencies. Evidence will also help to ensure that through our programmes WFD contribute to gender and conflict transformation and building sustainable peace. They will also inform WFD’s further research.

Scope of assignment and deliverables

WFD is seeking to hire a local consultant to co-lead the research on the impact of war on parliamentarians in Ukraine that will be co-funded by WFD and the USAID funded RADA: Next Generation Program (RANG). The lead consultant will be responsible for:

– Supporting the international project lead in contextualising the methodology

– Conducting and transcribing up to 30 interviews with a diverse group of parliamentarians interviews

– Closely cooperating with the international researcher and WFD team on conducting the research

– Co-writing the final report of up to 40 pages and 4-page summary.

– Preparing a presentation with key findings.

Timeline

• Contract commencement by 29 October 2024
• Support to the development of the methodology by 8 November 2024
• Field research November – December 2024
• First draft of the final report 31 January 2025
• Feedback on the first draft by 12 February 2025
• Final draft of the report by 28 February 2025
• Preparing a presentation with key findings by 28 February

Fees

It is expected that the delivery of the assignment will take up to 26 working days:

• Up to 1 day to support the development of the methodology
• Up to 23 days for scheduling, conducting and transcribing up to 30 interviews (lasting between 30 minutes to an hour).
• Up to 6 days to co-write and finalise the report and develop

Working Arrangement Remote desk work, no travel required.

Relevant work experience:

• Understanding of the theory of trauma and trauma-informed approaches
• Strong experience in designing research methodologies and leading the research team in fragile and conflict-affected contexts
• Experience of working with Ukrainian parliamentarians and good access and relations with MPs representing different political factions and group
• Cultural and conflict sensitivity
• Proven excellent analytical skills
• Track record of writing reports both in Ukrainian and English
• Commitment to gender and conflict transformational change
• Experience working collaborative and in teams
• Excellent organisational and writing skills

Application process

Interested Ukrainian candidates can submit their application by 22 October (23:59 h UK time), including:

• 1-page application letter outlining your relevant knowledge, an indication of your previous work with parliamentarians and networks you have easy access to, and a daily fee in USD.
• Up-to-date CV (max a 4 page), including 2 reference persons.
• Links to a writing sample from assignments on relevant topics both in English and Ukrainian

2024-10-08T16:55:54.000 2024-10-22T23:59:59.000 Part time TELECOMMUTE Ukraine Westminster Foundation for Democracy