Medical Anthropologist Consultant – Venezuela – Delta Amacuro

Country / Region : Venezuela – Delta Amacuro

Starting date : September

Duration : 4 months

Source of funding : BHA

GENERAL CONTEXT

Venezuela is facing its 9th year of a humanitarian crisis, caused by a deepening economic contraction, constant inflation linked to episodes of hyperinflation, the worldwide fall of the cost and production of oil as well as the consequences of foreign economic sanctions (HNO, 2022). The visible results are related to an estimated outflow of over 6M people, who are leaving behind an exacerbated situation of vulnerability, especially affecting women in child-bearing age, children and their elder caregivers (R4V, 2022). COVID-19 has further aggravated existing severe vulnerabilities. The lack of fuel coupled with the mobility restrictions due to the pandemic led to the closure of many businesses as well as the contraction of remittances. This overall context has decreased as well the capacity of the Government’s subsidies supporting social programs. In 2021, an estimated 65% of the population is living in a multi-dimensional poverty situation (HNO, 2022). Moreover, the security conditions are also a contributing factor, especially in some bordering States, where armed groups are controlling illicit economic activities, as well as in main urban areas, where Other Situations than Violence (OSV) are also increasing the vulnerability of affected communities. While waiting for the publication of the 2022 HRP, which may confirm the main trends of the 2021 version, the 2021 HRP projects 4.5 million people with acute humanitarian needs, identifying the targeted project State, Delta Amacuro (DA), among the priority areas. Targeted areas have been selected according to a number of indicators, including maternal mortality, the average number of pregnancies among children aged 10 to 18 years old and feminicide rates. The area is very neglected, also by humanitarian actors, which are very few and conduct ad hoc activities. PUI performed an assessment in Antonio Diaz, Tucupita and Casacoima municipalities, covering both indigenous and criollo communities. Delta Amacuro is affected by migration flows towards Brazil, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, which worsen security and protection conditions. According to the most recent estimations for 2022, provided by the State MoH, Delta Amacuro’s population counts around 220.000 inhabitants, of which around 60.000 are Waraos. While most of them are living in Antonio Diaz and Pedernales municipalities, over 10.000 moved to precarious settlements in sub-urban areas of main towns of Tucupita municipality, living in vulnerable conditions and missing their traditional community links.

PUI’s presence in Venezuela is relatively recent, starting its operations in 2019 as the majority of humanitarian actors in the country. Taking into account the specific peculiarities of the humanitarian context, access and needs, PUI has been always working through strengthening the capacity of civil society organizations, which have been chosen as implementing partners. Through these partnerships, PUI has implemented programs initially in Lara State, increasing its presence progressively into Miranda State, to finally focus its attention into addressing humanitarian needs in Delta Amacuro State. PUI’s programs range from access to primary health services through mobile and fixed supported health facilities, complemented by mental health and psychosocial support interventions, nutrition, protection, water and sanitation initiatives. This integrated approach allows the organization to address needs in a holistic way, contextualized according to the target beneficiaries, always looking to comply with the do-not-harm principle. The proactive participation to the cluster system allows PUI to expand its network, avoid overlapping and ensure proper referral routes.

OVERALL OBJECTIVE

The Medical Anthropologist Consultant is responsible for conducting a research study on how to better frame PUI’s health, nutrition, WaSH and protection integrated intervention within the indigenous Warao communities in Delta Amacuro State, Venezuela. More specifically, the focus will be to identify the semantics used by the targeted communities in expressing their needs and how they are accessing and using services related to health, nutrition, WaSH and protection according to the Warao’s cosmovision/interaction with the Criollo population.

Several studies have been conducted already, describing the cosmovision of these indigenous communities, including the perception on health and mental health. Taking into consideration these secondary data, the consultant is expected to better understand how promotion activities related to the four sectors of intervention should be tackled, considering health as the main focus of investigation. The consultant will work together with PUI Technical Advisors at mission and HQ level to set up a database and appropriate data collection tools, by using both qualitative and quantitative methods, such as:

• Household level survey conducted with community representatives from four provinces using cluster sampling method (in this method communities are divided into groups of people with similar conditions, and only sample of clusters is then used for interviews)
• In depth Focus Group Discussions (FGD) with representatives of different community groups (women, men, boys, girls, elderly, people with disabilities, pregnant and lactating women etc.)
• Key Informant Interviews (KII) with both traditional and formal health providers, health authorities, community leaders, education professionals, humanitarian workers, etc.

All interviews will be done by trained data collectors in local languages. Household survey will be done using Kobocollect software. Analysis will be done by the Medical Anthropologist consultant experienced in scientific researches counting on PUI Technical Advisers (TAs) guidance at mission level and support from HQ different advisors. The Consultant will directly report to the Health Coordinator based in Caracas.

The study will be performed in a close cooperation with health and protection partners operating in the targeted area, including UN agencies, Universities, national CSOs, INGOs and health authorities.

The final result of the study – report and compact summary report on the perception of Warao communities to the proposed promotion activities and ways to implement them taking into account the specific cosmovision of the beneficiaries – will be presented to aforementioned actors. Additionally, summary of the report and power point presentations on the key findings will be prepared to ensure the main outcomes of the survey will be also shared widely (e.g. national cluster system) and presented during special meetings which might be held at University level in the country. The study can be used as well by other INGOs and NNGOs as one of the advocacy tool, to ensure activities in Warao communities are shaped in a culturally sensitive manner and potentially used for comparative analysis when targeting other indigenous communities in the country.

SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

1. To prepare, realize and develop narrative of study findings
2. To recruit, manage and assist data collection team.

BUDGET

The total budget of the consultancy is USD 20,000.

APPLICATIONS CONDITIONS

Interested candidates should submit in English:

• A technical offer with (5 pages max):

  • Understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR): development of a problematic and formulation of questions, which the offer proposes to respond to
  • The methodology and tools proposed for the consultancy
  • The timetable showing the details for the completion of each consultancy phases. The proposed schedule should include time for briefing and debriefing on the mission and as much as possible at headquarter.

• A financial offer including a budget with detailed sections (fees, other costs)

• At least 2 samples of research- completed within the last 3 years previously designed and facilitated by the consultant and/or final reports with research outcomes and evaluation, if available.

• An updated CV

• References

• Questions can be submitted to the same e-mail address. Closing date for questions: 5 days before closing date

For more information, please download the Terms of References.