Support Consultant for the Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Analysis of Justice Zones

BACKGROUND

EU-GOJUST Program

For nearly 20 years, the European Union (EU) and the Republic of the Philippines have partnered to strengthen the pillars of justice in the Philippines. Beginning in 2016, these efforts were delivered through the Governance in Justice (GOJUST) programme. The EU-GOJUST programme is focused on improving access to justice for all Filipinos and contributing to Philippine socio-economic development through a more effective, inclusive, and accountable justice system. These efforts are pursued by supporting the priorities of Philippine justice institutions such as the Department of Local and Interior Governance (DILG), the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Supreme Court, and justice-sector civil society organizations and law schools.

Following the successful completion of the first two iterations of the EU-GOJUST programme, the EU and the Philippines signed a Financing Agreement in November 2024, to continue these efforts through the EU-GOJUST programme.

The Justice Zones

The Justice Zone (JZ) is a coordination and decision-making mechanism established by the Justice Sector Coordinating Council (JSCC) to improve communication, coordination, and cooperation among justice sector agencies at the local level. Justice Zones aim to address systemic bottlenecks in the administration of justice, reduce case backlogs, and improve service delivery. There are currently nineteen Justice Zones nationwide.

A series of evaluations and consultations under the EU-GOJUST Programme revealed key inclusivity gaps in at the JZs – specifically, limited participation of grassroots actors and civil society, weak community justice integration, and an absence of systematic data to monitor inclusivity and equity outcomes.

A Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) Analysis will be conducted across all existing JZs to identify such gaps. It will aim to identify barriers to justice for women and marginalized groups and provide recommendations to strengthen the capacity of JZs to address their needs. The findings of the GESI Analysis will guide efforts to enhancing Justice Zones under the EU-GOJUST Programme  

Objectives of the Consultancy

The overall objective of this consultancy is to design, implement, and consolidate a comprehensive, intersectional GESI Analysis to strengthen the inclusivity, accessibility and responsiveness of Justice Zones.

Specific Objectives

1. Implement the by conducting desk review, data collection, consultations, and analysis in assigned JZs using the agreed tools and materials.[1]
2. Prepare GESI Analysis reports for assigned JZs, identifying localized barriers, gaps, good practices, and priority areas for action.
3. Contribute to the consolidation and validation of findings by providing analytical inputs, data summaries, and feedback to the Lead Consultant for inclusion in the consolidated GESI Analysis Report.

Scope of Work and Tasks

The Support Consultant will perform the following tasks under the direction of the Lead Consultant and in coordination with the Programme Team:

A. Preparatory and Framework Familiarization

1. Participate in the orientation and briefing on the GESI Analysis Framework, tools, and templates.
2. Review relevant background materials and provide feedback to refine the framework and tools as necessary.

B. Capacity Building Support

1. Support the delivery and facilitation of the orientation and training workshop for the Programme Team and JSCC representatives.
2. Help ensure consistent understanding and application of the framework among field data collectors.

C. Data Gathering and Fieldwork

1. Conduct data collection in assigned Justice Zones through interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs) with justice providers and justice seekers.
2. Coordinate with the Programme Team and local stakeholders to facilitate field activities and logistics.
3. Ensure proper documentation and secure storage of collected data, following approved protocols and templates.

D. Data Consolidation and Analysis

1. Synthesize data collected from assigned JZ and identify key gender equality and social inclusion barriers, promising practices, and emerging themes.
2. Write GESI Analysis reports for assigned JZs (total of seven JZs - three JZs for the first batch, 4 JZs for the second batch), ensuring accuracy and consistency with the overall framework.
3. Provide analytical summaries and validated data to the Lead Consultant for integration into the consolidated GESI Analysis Report.

E. Reporting and Validation

1. Contribute to the preparation of presentations and materials for validation workshops and stakeholder consultations.
2. Provide technical and logistical support during validation sessions.
3. Incorporate comments and feedback into assigned reports and summaries.

F. Coordination and Documentation

1. Maintain regular communication with the Programme team to update on progress and address issues encountered in the field.
2. Ensure timely submission of deliverables and adherence to EU-GOJUST visibility and reporting standards.
3. Support the preparation of knowledge products, presentations, and related outputs as required.

[1] The GESI analyses will use mixed methods, including a desk review of relevant public and internal programme resources, and consultations with Justice Zone actors and other stakeholders. The GESI Analysis Guide and Tools will be aligned with the broader EU-GOJUST GESI Framework.

Deliverables and Schedule

Reporting and Coordination

The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of IDLO’s Senior Adviser and in coordination with the Gender and Programme Teams. Payment will be made upon receipt by the consultant of deliverables of high quality, and upon approval by the supervisor, as per the mutually agreed schedule.

Education and Experience

• Advanced degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Law, or related fields.
• At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in gender and social inclusion analysis, justice reform, or human rights programming.
• Demonstrated experience in developing analytical frameworks and conducting participatory assessments.
• Excellent understanding of the Philippine justice system and local governance context.
• Strong analytical, writing, and facilitation skills.
• Prior experience working with EU-funded or IDLO projects is an advantage.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills in English.

This post is open to applicants who are residents and nationals of the duty station (Manila, Philippines). The consultancy is expected to run for 4 months, from the date of signing the contract, with an estimate of 40 working days. The consultancy is primarily home-based with possible travel to JZ for data gathering. It is expected to be a part-time engagement beginning December 2025.  

IDLO is an Equal Opportunity Employer and values diversity in all areas of its operations. We welcome applications of qualified and diverse candidates. IDLO is committed to achieving a 50/50 gender balance at all levels within its workforce. Female candidates are strongly encouraged to apply for IDLO vacancies. 

IDLO does not tolerate sexual exploitation or abuse, any kind of harassment, including harassment of a sexual nature; or discrimination. As such, IDLO will conduct careful reference and background checks of all selected candidates as part of its selection process.   

In the interest of making the most effective use of resources, only the short-listed candidates will be contacted during the selection process.  

Application deadline: 26 November 2025