Call for Proposals – Research on a gender-based violence accountability mechanism
The Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund (LEAF) is a national not-for-profit that works to advance the substantive equality of women, girls, trans, and non-binary people in Canada through litigation, law reform, and public legal education.
We are funding one researcher to carry out research and consultations regarding a legal mechanism such as a Commissioner or Ombudsperson that would hold state and non-state actors accountable for taking the necessary steps to address gender-based violence in Canada.
Proposals are due by 11:59 pm ET on September 17, 2023.
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Overview
| Number of awards | 1 |
| Value | $20,000* |
| Duration | September 2023 to mid-August 2024 |
| Application deadline | September 17, 2023 (11:59pm ET) |
| Results announced | By September 26, 2023 |
*Note: The contract value listed here is compensation for the researcher’s labour – LEAF has an additional budget for interviewees’ honouraria and translation.
Context
Gender-based violence in Canada occurs at an epidemic level. It persists at this level despite a vast array of reports, recommendations, and studies from multiple decades outlining its causes and making recommendations aimed at prevention and response.
Effectively preventing and responding to gender-based violence requires moving beyond these types of reports and recommendations to ensuring monitoring, accountability, and evaluation. With that in mind, the recently completed Mass Casualty Commission has called on the federal government to create a “National Accountability Framework” aimed at holding state and non-state actors accountable for taking the necessary steps to address gender-based violence in Canada. The Commission provides initial thoughts as to what such a “gender-based violence commissioner” could look like, but encourages further consultation to develop the body’s mandate.
Through this project, LEAF seeks to build on its previous participation in the Mass Casualty Commission’s work and contribute to the establishment of a gender-based violence accountability mechanism in Canada. We are seeking a researcher to conduct research and interviews (described below), and to summarize that work in a report and recommendations aimed at the creation of a federal gender-based violence accountability mechanism.
This project is supported by The Canadian Bar Association’s Law for the Future Fund.
Description
The project can be broken down into three main aspects: research, consultations, and final report.
The research portion of the project will address the potential legal frameworks for an accountability mechanism for gender-based violence, including form, mandate, interactions with existing accountability mechanisms (including ombudspersons, human rights commissions, etc.), and questions of jurisdiction. It will also examine existing legal frameworks for gender-based violence accountability mechanisms outside of Canada.
The consultations portion of the project will identity and meaningfully engage gender-based violence advocacy and support sector actors to develop an understanding of what they would like to see included in the body’s mandate and powers. Specific priority will be given to interviewing actors representing or working with members of marginalized communities, and in particular Black, Indigenous, and/or trans communities. Efforts will also be made to ensure geographic representation, both in terms of region within Canada and in urban/rural settings.
The findings from the research and consultations will inform the creation and contents of the final report and recommendations. We anticipate that the final report will:
- Summarize the key findings of the research and consultations
- Describe the form the accountability mechanism should take
- Describe the roles and powers the accountability mechanism should have
- Outline what is required to ensure that the accountability mechanism is independent and has the necessary buy-in from communities, members of the gender-based violence advocacy and support sector, and other key stakeholders
- Identify the relationship between it and existing human rights mechanisms in Canada
- Propose how it should address matters within federal, provincial, territorial, or overlapping areas of jurisdiction
The researcher will be supported through all stages of the project by LEAF staff and an advisory committee.
Value and Duration
The successful applicant will be awarded $20,000 to complete their research and write their report. LEAF has an additional budget for interviewees’ honouraria and translation costs.
The researcher will be expected to adhere to an agreed upon schedule of deliverables, including:
- in collaboration with LEAF staff, assembling an Advisory Committee by October 16, 2023;
- submitting a detailed research and consultation plan by November 15, 2023;
- submitting draft consultation questions and supporting documents by January 15, 2024;
- submitting a detailed outline of the report by April 15, 2024;
- submitting a draft of the research report by June 14, 2024; and
- submitting a final report by August 15, 2024.
All research products must be completed by August 15, 2024.
By applying for this funding opportunity, the successful applicant consents to LEAF publicly sharing the resulting research products.
Application Process
Applicants must submit the following as a single PDF attachment:
- A 1-2 page letter of intent summarizing the applicant’s relevant expertise/experience in relation to the research topic
- Applicant’s CV
- A brief writing sample (5-10 pages)
Applications will be accepted by email only. In the subject line of your email application, reference “Call for Proposals – GBV Accountability Mechanism”. Applications are to be submitted to Kat Owens (she/her) at [email protected], and must be submitted by 11:59 pm ET on September 17, 2023.
The successful applicant will be notified by September 26, 2023. Only the successful applicant will be contacted.
LEAF welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities for all available opportunities. Where possible, accommodations will be made available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.
LEAF encourages applications from candidates who reflect the diversity of our communities. We strongly encourage applicants who are Black, Indigenous, racialized, newcomers, gender-diverse, and/or part of other equity-deserving groups to apply. If you are comfortable, please indicate in your letter of intent if you identify as a member of an equity-deserving group.
Contact Information
For more information about this funding opportunity, or if you have any accommodation requests related to the application process, please contact Kat Owens at [email protected].
Download a PDF of the Call for Proposals here.
