ThaiNGO

Plan International

Consultancy on Project Review of Making Educational Institutions Safe to Young LGBT Students Project

Introduction: 

In 2013, Plan International Thailand in partnership with UNESCO supported by SIDA commissioned the Center for Health Policy Studies and the Center for Health Law at Mahidol University to investigate the issue of bullying of secondary school students who are or perceived to be transgender or same-sex attracted for the purpose of designing appropriate interventions to ensure that these young people are learning in safe environments. Findings and recommendations from the research titled ’Bullying targeting secondary school students who are or are perceived to be transgender or same-sex attracted: Types, prevalence, impact, motivation and preventive measures in 5 provinces of Thailand’ were published in 2014.

The study found that teachers need significantly more support to understand sexual/gender diversity issues, and integrate this understanding into comprehensive sexuality education interventions. Currently, many schools had negative attitudes about sexuality. The sex education that was given emphasised stigmatising sexual behaviour and encouraging delayed sexual debut beyond graduation. Teachers’ language about LGBT students was stigmatising, sexually deviant being one of them. Teachers seemed to use such terms even when they described LGBT students in a positive tone of voice, suggesting that they did not intentionally condemn such students. In many schools, teachers initially said they did not see any link between sexuality education and bullying prevention, but when the issue of anti-LGBT bias was discussed further, they expressed a wish to receive educational materials, presentations and training related to sexual/gender diversity.

One of the most significant consequences of bullying is on children’s education. Duty bearers including Thai government, teachers, and parents are responsible for ensuring the right to education for every child is fulfilled. However, this is currently a challenge for LGBT students as there is still a lack of understanding and knowledge on the issues as well as lack of anti-bullying mechanism in schools.

In response to the findings of the review, Plan is partnering with UNESCO’s Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (UNESCO Bangkok) on developing and piloting a model to strengthen the capacity of the Thai education system to prevent and respond to school-related gender-based violence, including bullying on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. The initiative aims to promote awareness and sensitisation in sexuality and LGBT and to lower bullying and violence against LGBT in the educational contexts.

Purpose: To prevent school-related gender-based violence (SRGBV) including homophobic bullying and other forms of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) and to make schools more gender responsive. 

The project aims to promote awareness of students, school administrators, teachers and other stakeholders within educational settings, to ensure LGBT students are protected against homophobic bullying and other forms of violence and discrimination based on SOGI, and to engage concerned parties to solve, develop and/or scale up the practice in schools. This will be done at the student, school, and community levels through awareness raising and sensitization in schools, establishment of support mechanisms in schools, and through strengthening capacity of 2 CSOs, who has expertise on LGBT sensitization and school-based intervention, for rights based programming and advocacy.

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Qualifications, Skills & Experience:  

• Proven research background with a degree social sciences or related fields.
• Broader understanding and knowledge on LGBTI and SRGBV is a must.
• Proficient English writing and documentation skills.
• Excellent interpersonal communication skills and able to demonstrate respect for people with diverse ethnicities, different socio-economic backgrounds and beliefs.
• The consultant must work according to Plan’s core value

How to apply:

A consultant or a team of consultants should submit a proposal for the consultancy based on the Terms of Reference including proposed budget and work plan, at least one(1) sample of previous work (unpublished or published documentations)

and Curriculum Vitae of each team member with contract details by email: thailand.hr@plan-international.org 

The deadline for applications is 5pm on 7 February, 2017.

Only shortlisted candidates will be notified. Plan is an equal opportunity employer.

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