Research - Assessment of the state of female inmates in Zimbabwe’s prisons and places of detention during COVID-19: Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe

Deadline: 31 January 2021

Introduction

The Women’s Coalition of Zimbabwe is implementing an intervention aimed at increasing the influence and capacity of women and youth in acting collectively, through formal and informal groups, for more democratic and accountable governance at every level of society. The project goal is underpinned by the following objectives: To promote women’s agency in influencing Policy responses and actions to COVID-19 through community and national policy dialogues; To improve women participation in overseeing the Government’s response to COVID-19 through promoting active gender lens monitoring and tracking of the actions of stakeholders and duty bearers at both local and national levels.

Purpose

Numerous studies have demonstrated that although female prisoners the world over have always been one of the most vulnerable groups in society. Now their vulnerability has been exacerbated due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In responding to the crisis, specific needs of persons in prison or detention should be taken into account, as well as how the crisis disproportionately affects women and girls.

WCoZ therefore intends to Commission a study to assess the state of female inmates in Zimbabwe’s prisons and the Nation’s level of COVID-19 preparedness and response and COVID-19 preparedness. This study will provide empirical evidence on the state of women’s rights in Prisons or places of detention, and how effective the COVID-19 response is, to the needs of female prisoners. This would strengthen the women’s rights monitoring mechanism and provide a solid guide for the women’s movement advocacy for implementation of comprehensive measures to ensure protection and advancement of fundamental human rights for female detainees during the COVID-19 crisis.

A call for expression of interest is therefore made to the consultant(s) who wish to undertake the highlighted consultancy.

Objectives of Consultancy

The objective of this assignment is to: To interrogate, through empirical data, the state of the female inmates in Zimbabwe’s prisons and places of detention during COVID-19; To establish the extent at which the COVID-19 National Preparedness and Response Plan and other policies prioritise and promote the needs and rights of female inmates in Zimbabwe’s prisons; To provide recommendations for strengthening a gender-lens COVID-19 response in Zimbabwe’s Prisons and places of detention.

Scope of work

Reporting to the National Coordinator and under the supervision of the Gender Advisor, the consultant shall carry out the assignment as indicated below:

Final inception report - 15 February 2021

Submission First draft of the Report - 1 March 2021

Preliminary Presentation of the Draft Report - 3 March 2021

Submission of Final and Consolidated Report - 8 March 2021

Deliverables

A comprehensive research report on the state of female inmates in Zimbabwe prisons and other places of detention during COVID-19 and the extent at which Government’s policy prioritises and promotes their rights; Well defined recommendations for a gender lens National COVID-19 response plan in Zimbabwe’s Prisons and places of detention.

Expected Qualifications, experience of the Consultant

The consultant should have a Masters’ Degree in Gender Studies, Social Science, Development or related fields; Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience in gender and policy advocacy research; Proven working experience on gender equality, justice delivery and women empowerment issues.