UN Women Sign Language Interpreters Short Term Consultants Jobs in Nairobi Kenya

UN Women: United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women

Terms of Reference for a Short Term Consultant to Offer Sign Language Interpretation at the Workshop for WLHIV and Disability on 20th and 21st November 2014 in Nairobi

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. UN Women, a dynamic and strong champion for women’s rights and gender equality, provides women and girls with a powerful voice at the global, regional and local levels. 

Grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the UN Charter, UN Women works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; empowerment of women; achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
 

Kenya has the third largest population of people living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa and the highest national HIV prevalence of any country outside of Southern Africa. 

In 2012, there were approximately 1.2 million people living with HIV [KIAS Report, 2012c].There is a mixed and geographically heterogeneous HIV epidemic with an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 5.6% percent [KIAS Report 2012].
 

In the 2012 Kenya AIDS Indicator Survey, prevalence among women was found to be higher (6.9%) than for men (4.4%). Overall, women represent 58% of the total number of people living with HIV (NACC and NASCOP, 2012). 

The KMOT 2008 study identified the various drivers of the epidemic which included Injecting Drug Use, Sex work, homosexuality and heterosexual sex among those in stable or casual relationships.
 

Over the years Kenya has invested in interventions to reduce sexual transmission of HIV among these key groups who comprise of young people and women. According to the Kenya National AIDS Strategic Plan III End of Term Review ( KNASP II ETR) findings, efforts were made towards enhancing access to HIV services by the various population segments such as Key Populations and women with some of the notable achievements being efforts to improve policy and social environment through the development of policies and guidelines. 

The other notable achievement included scaled up services through targeted interventions. These were largely achieved through application of Right Based Approaches.
 

However, the KNASP III ETR did not look at the gender and HIV in detail as it was grouped among other cross cutting issues such as (Key Population) MARPS and Human Rights during the review. 

Gender still remains one of the monumental challenges to HIV response owing to the deep-rooted gender norms which make it difficult for women and young people to protect themselves from HIV infection, and to negotiate safer sex as revealed by other studies in this area.
 

The ETR also noted that stakeholders are still concerned with the many structural barriers including the impact of criminalisation, the pervasiveness of stigma and discrimination, retrogressive cultural practices and commonality of violence against MARPs and women which continue to hamper access to HIV services by all the sub-groups of these populations.
 

Human rights and gender inequalities remain a central issue in the HIV and AIDS interventions and are recognized as key structural determinants to HIV vulnerability. 

It is also acknowledged that Human Rights violation is usually one of the immediate and most probable consequences of HIV infection.

Kenya’s commitment to human rights and gender equality in relation to HIV stems from a number of national and international legal instruments. 

The Constitution of Kenya 2010, particularly chapter four, is the cornerstone and legal basis of incorporating human rights. 

Our legal framework for the protection of human rights is based on laws such as the HIV and AIDS Prevention and Control Act 2006 and The Employment Act. 

There are also policies and guidelines which have been developed to address the gender inequalities which are yet to be implemented effectively.
 

2.0 Aims and Objectives
 

To effectively ensure the participation of all stakeholders, NACC in partnership with UN Women and the International Community of Women living with HIV and AIDS – Kenya Chapter has held a consultative forum for the WLHIV from several counties to consult on the Kenya AIDS Strategic Framework First report to ensure that their issues have been included in the report. 

A key recommendation from this forum was the need to invite WLHIV and a disability to the table to discuss key issues that affect them. This meeting is scheduled for the 19th – 22nd November 2014 in Nairobi.
 

To support this process, UN Women is seeking the services of a two interpreters for the women with hearing impairment so as to interpret the proceedings of the workshop to the people with hearing impairment. The two will be alternating during the two day workshop.

3.0 Scope of Work
 

The two consultants will work together and accurately translate for the participants with hearing impairment the proceedings of the workshop.

The Task
 

The Consultants will work closely with NACC, ICW(K) and UN Women in carrying out the assignment. 

This will entail:

1. Translating the proceedings of the two day workshop.
2. Translate any input from the partipcants with hearing impairment back to the facilitators of the workshop and the rest of teh meeting partipcants.

4.0 Output – deliverables
 

The Consultants shall provide:- 

• Translation services to and from the participants with hearing impairment

5.0 Time Schedule
 

The assignment is for a period of 2 full days. Specifically 20th and 21st November 2014.
 

6.0 Key Performance Indicators
 

The consultants will provide translation services during the workshop.
 

7.0 Evaluation Criteria:
 

7.1 The Consultant
 

The ideal consultant for this assignment should preferably have a minimum of diploma in sign language translation from accredited institution. 

They should have working experience in the field of Gender, HIV, human rights, law, social science and knowledge of Gender issues, HIV strategies and policy development;

1. Demonstrate their understanding of the TORs;
2. Submit a detailed CVs with relevant certificates;
3. Demonstrate the ability and capacity to undertake the assignment. This should include details of similar assignments
4. Have fluency in English and sign language excellent writing skills and demonstrable capacity to work with diverse stakeholders-including Government of Kenya officials.

8.0 Timeline
 

Duration: The consultant will work for 2 days specifically 21st and 22nd November 2014

Timelines for the Consultant

• Activity: Translating
• No of Days: 2
• Quantity: 2 Consultants
• Total Days: 2
• Delivery schedule 2014: November 21st and 22nd
• Responsible Party: UN Women and NCPD
• Remarks: Deliverables

Application Process
 

Applications should be sent to: consultancies.eharo@unwomen.org with the subject line clearly marked “ UNW INTERPREATOR”

The deadline for submission of applications is COB 19th November 2014.