Purpose of consultancy:

The UNFPA 10^th Country Programme will contribute to the equitable enjoyment of sexual and reproductive rights of all Sri Lankans particularly among girls, women and young people. The fund works towards the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) agenda through three transformative goals to 1. End unmet need for family planning 2. End preventable maternal deaths and 3. End sexual and gender-based violence and harmful practices.

Within this context building on the past interventions of the Country Office, UNFPA is working towards addressing sexual harassment in public transport. The issue has been a longstanding concern globally and in Sri Lanka. Its causes encompass a wide range of issues that are both inter-connected and far-reaching. From the practical challenges of high congestion, low levels of awareness and lack of bystander intervention – sexual harassment in public transport is an issue that demands urgent action. Further, public transportation is a key contributing factor to the overall efficiency of the country. As it is utilized primarily for the purposes of travelling to work and study, the high frequency of sexual harassment of public transport have deterring effect on the productive use of transport and inhibits work and/or study related performance. The overall detrimental impact on the wellbeing and personal lives of women is significant.

The project aims to enhance prevention and support risk mitigation measures to ensure the safety of passengers in public transport. As such, the UNFPA Sri Lanka aims to hire an individual consultant to develop a zero-tolerance approach to sexual harassment in public transport, including clear codes of conduct and protocols for transport workers and passengers.

Scope of work:

The consultant will undertake the following activities:

1. Develop a Clear Gender-Sensitive Code of Conduct to address GBV: Create an enforceable circular/code of conduct that includes a zero-tolerance clause for GBV including sexual harassment in public transport. Ensure that all relevant officials (bus owners, drivers, and conductors) understand and sign this document when renewing their route permits/licenses. Collaborate/coordinate with UNFPA and other relevant stakeholders (such as the Ministry of Women and Child Affairs, the Ministry of Transportation, the National Transport Commission, Provincial Transportation Authorities, Sri Lanka Transport Board and others) to ensure alignment with national policies.
2. Tailor the Code of Conduct: Ensure that the drafted code of conduct is specifically tailored to public transport services in Sri Lanka, taking into account cultural, logistical, and operational challenges.
3. Conduct a Validation Workshop: Organize a workshop to present the drafts to key stakeholders for review and feedback, incorporating recommendations as needed.
4. Submit the Final Code of Conduct: Based on feedback from the validation workshop, submit the final code of conduct to UNFPA for dissemination to the Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Women and Child Affairs and other stakeholders for operationalization.