CALL FOR APPLICANTS: ANALYSIS OF GENDER EQUITY IN HEALTH IN EAST AND SOUTHERN AFRICA Call closes June 30 2011 BACKGROUND: The Regional Network for Equity in Health in east and southern Africa (EQUINET) is a network of professionals, civil society members, policy makers, state officials and others within the region who have come together as an equity catalyst, to promote and realise shared values of equity and social justice in health. EQUINET is carrying out analysis of equity in health and health systems at country and regional level. In 2007, EQUINET produced a regional analysis on health equity (see www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/EQUINET%20Reclaiming%20the%20Resources%20for%20Health%20in%20ESA.pdf) and is currently updating this. Since 2009 country teams in EQUINET have been working on country level Equity Watches in five countries in the region. These include evidence on key processes, investments and policy decisions that contribute to health equity outcomes. They cover areas of health, social determinants of health, health systems and interactions between the region and the global community. The specific markers are shown in the appendix and further explanation can be found at www.equinetafrica.org/bibl/docs/EWmtg%20repNov09.pdf One of the key areas of focus of this work is in relation to fair financing for health. Through evidence, institutions in the network are examining the trends, experience and policy options in domestic resource mobilisation and in the equitable allocation of resources, as well as the implications of for-profit financing in health equity outcomes. EQUINET undertakes to build and strengthen its internal capacity for integrating gender equity perspectives into its work on promoting more equitable health systems in the region, and particularly in this call in relation to the regional equity watch/analysis and the evidence on fair financing of health systems. THE COMMISSIONED WORK: Towards this, EQUINET is commissioning and calling for applicants to prepare, through desk review of existing data and literature on the east and southern African region, a situation report on gender related dimensions of equity in health, and the policy measures and options for addressing gender inequalities. Specifically the report will provide evidence, data and analysis on priority dimensions of gender equity in health in east and southern Africa within the context of the overall framework of progress markers for equity in health defined by EQUINET. The gender equity analysis will be expected to broadly provide 1. Evidence on and an analysis of trends over the past decade (2001-2011) (drawing on available secondary data) in terms of gender-related inequalities in health (including in access to social determinants of health and health systems) in East and southern Africa, and identify gaps in addressing these inequalities. 2. An overview of key priorities, policy options and specific measures for improving gender equity in health, drawing on evidence from policy analysis and evaluation, analysis of trends related to gender inequalities and case studies 3. A discussion of the implications of (1) and (2) above for the organisation and financing of health systems and the allocation of resources to and within health systems. More detailed terms of reference and areas of focus will be agreed with the consultant. The report will be based on sound and reliable information by analyzing and reporting on relevant current and retrospective quantitative and qualitative data drawn from secondary reports in published and electronically available grey literature, policy documents, and statistical databases. Electronic versions of the evidence gathered will be supplied with the report and the criteria for search and inclusion of material for the review will be made clear in the methods, together with any comment on the limitations of the evidence presented. No travel or original field work is expected. The consultant will liaise in the production with a member of the Equity Watch cluster in EQUINET and a member of the cluster on fairly resourcing health systems for internal peer review. EQUINET will provide as background published relevant reports from its Equity Watch and fair financing work, and will share recommendations made by a gender consultant at the 2009 EQUINET conference. The work will be done between July and November 2011, including external peer review and edit, and produced in line with EQUINET style and editorial requirements. A fee of GBP 4600 (US7000) will be available for the work, excluding external peer review and edit costs which will be separately met. APPLICANTS: This is an open call. Applicants should have • Masters or Advanced Degree in a related subject (e.g. health, economics, political science) with a specialization in gender particularly useful • At least 5 years experience in gender analysis and integration into policies, programs or projects. • Experience in working with gender mainstreaming at international / regional and country levels • Experience in health and health systems in Southern and East Africa in the health systems particularly useful Applications should be emailed by 5:00pm June 30 2011 to admin@equinetafrica.org with GENDER EQUITY in the subject line and must include: 1. A concept note outlining a. Potential priority areas of focus on gender equity within the wider framework on equity in health and one or two lines for each justifying this b. Major information sources, databases to be used for the analysis c. Potential information sources for the case studies and evidence on policy options, and a single example of a policy option for enhancing gender equity with a list of three information sources justifying it. 2. CV and contact information (including email) that makes clear the applicant’s experiences and skills of relevance to this work; including publications that the applicant has produced in an area related to that of the commissioned paper; and 3. A sample of a paper written by the applicant in an area closely related to that of the commissioned paper The successful applicant will be notified by July 11th 2011