Consultancy Title: Regional Analysis Consultant for the “Peer-led Study on Rights and Social Experiences of Trans and Gender Diverse People in Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea”
Location: Home-based Position (preferably based in Bangkok, Thailand or Asia and the Pacific region)
Organization: Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) Foundation
Language Required: English
Duration and Length of Contract: 10 working days within December 2018 to February 2019
Application Deadline: 15 December 2018 *Deadline extended to January 20th*
Project and Reference: US-DRL / S-LMAQM-17-GR-1190
Background:
The Pacific, particularly Polynesia, has a long history of gender diversity including culturally specific terms such as Fa’afafine (Samoa), Leiti (Tonga), Palopa (Papua New Guinea) and Vakasalewalewa (Fiji). There is no accurate data on the number of transgender people in the Pacific. However, the visibility of trans feminine people, including those culturally-specific identities listed above, suggests the proportion is likely to be at least as high as estimates in other parts of the world. Trans masculine identities are only starting to emerge in the Pacific. There has been very limited research on the experiences of transgender people in the Pacific outside HIV and AIDS behavioral or prevalence studies, or as a very small component of research across the Asia Pacific region more generally. This research gap is widely known. For example, one of the recommendations from the 2015 Blueprint for the Provision of Comprehensive Care for Trans People and Trans Communities in Asia and the Pacific was to “undertake research on under-represented groups, including trans men, indigenous groups, and elderly people across the region and trans people in the Pacific”.
It has always been recognized that there are gaps in information and research available on transgender people’s lived experiences in the Pacific. The call for the participation of transgender people in research advocacy and policy resonates loudly with community organizations and has been emphasized in key regional meetings and guiding documents. Understanding research methodologies and leading research about their own experiences, to address the significant gaps in information on the lived experiences of transgender people amplifies transgender people’s voices, builds community resilience and provides a rich database of knowledge to inform policy, programs and practice.
Over the last seven years, Transgender Europe (TGEU) has been working with transgender partner organisations (including the Asia Pacific Transgender Network) and activists across the globe on groundbreaking research about the human rights situation of transgender and gender diverse people worldwide. Part of this research includes a peer-led survey on the social experiences of transgender and gender diverse people. The project’s title, Transphobia versus Transrespect (TvT) encapsulates its focus on both human rights violations and positive change. This format of peer research aims to combine robust research methods with community empowerment. Globally, seven countries (India, the Philippines, Serbia, Thailand, Tonga, Turkey and Venezuela) have conducted the surveys including Tonga based in the Pacific.
This TvT Project gives transgender communities access to easily understood research data on the communities’ experiences of Transphobia and discrimination in employment, education, access to health services, and family and social environments and Transrespect through cultural and family acceptance, enabling laws and policies and transgender friendly services. This information can be used to develop and inform publications, materials and tools to highlight the current legal and social situation and advocate for policy, legal and program reform.
About the Project:
In 2017, the Asia Pacific Transgender Network (APTN) sought support from the US Department of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL) for “A Peer-led Study on Trans Rights and Transphobic Violence in Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea” project to ensure transgender persons in Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea have equal protection under the law by participatory research and advocacy activities. One of the key components and objectives of this project is to build applied knowledge and understanding of research skills of national transgender organizations to conduct peer-led research reflecting the lived experiences of their communities and amplifying their voices by building an evidence base for advocacy.
The TvT Social Experiences Study has been adapted by APTN to the Pacific region to conduct the “Peer-led Study on Rights and Social Experiences of Trans and Gender Diverse People in Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.” This study done in collaboration with our Pacific country partners, Haus of Khameleon, Hetura NCD LGBT Group, and My Girls Club, and with the technical support of Transgender Europe (TGEU).
Last September 2018, capacity building workshops on the Social Experiences Study were conducted in the three Pacific countries. In each of the countries, a research team of 10 interviewers (trans women and trans men) and a focal person, were selected and trained to conduct the actual data gathering. To date, the country research teams are on the field conducting interviews to collect a total of 50 respondents per country (minimum), for a total of 150 in the three Pacific countries. Data collection, validation, encoding and cleaning is expected to be completed in mid-December 2018.
Thus, APTN is looking for a Regional Analysis Consultant for the “Peer-led Study on Rights and Social Experiences of Trans and Gender Diverse People in Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea”, to be engaged for ten (10) working days within December 2018 to February 2019.
Duties and Responsibilities of the Consultant:
The Consultant will work closely with the Country Report Writers, Statistical Consultant, APTN team, and country focal persons. The Consultant will be supervised by APTN’s Project Manager (based in Bangkok) and coordination with APTN’s Pacific Project Coordinator (based in Fiji). The position is expected to accommodate the Bangkok and local Pacific timezones in their role.
The Consultant’s responsibilities include:
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