ILGA-Europe is looking for researcher

Background information:

Following a survey on the experiences of LGBT people in the 28 EU member states conducted by the Fundamental Rights Agency, 40% of LGBT people where not open to any healthcare provider about being LGBT. In the last 12 months, 11% have personally felt discriminated against because of being L, G, B or T by healthcare personnel.

ILGA-Europe’s work on health is identified as a priority issue in the Strategic Objectives 2011-2013. Some member organisations of ILGA-Europe have initiated useful projects in the field of health and other intend to invest more resources in this area.

To better assess how to support them and how to strategise its own work on health, ILGA-Europe, is launching a research on the priorities and needs of LGBTI rights organisations in the area of health.

Purpose of the research:

The research will be conducted in 2013, and includes the production of a final report, to be delivered by the beginning of 2014.

The main purposes of the research are:

• Scoping of existing practices from ILGA-Europe’s members in terms of working jointly with healthcare practitioners and health organisations (mental health, HIV-AIDS, public health, etc.) to tackle health inequalities faced by LGBTI people.
• Exploring good practices, challenges and obstacles experienced by LGBTI rights organisations in working in the field of health.
• Identifying in which areas needs are the most pressing. Such areas may include : mental health, sexual and reproductive health, HIV-AIDS, access to gender reassignment treatment, medical curricula, knowledge and know-how relative to sexual orientation and gender identity, etc;
• Identifying which kind of tools and actions by ILGA-Europe would be the most helpful and relevant in relation to the needs of its members;
• Identifying elements of national advocacy and capacity-building strategies which may be transposed in an appropriate way in order to help pursuing similar goals in other European countries and at European level.

The contractor will proceed through both quantitative (a survey to be sent to all members) and qualitative (meetings and interviews with relevant stakeholders) methods. The selection of interviewees will be discussed between the contractor and ILGA-Europe.

Most of interviews could take place at ILGA-Europe’s Annual Conference in Zagreb on 23-26 October 2013. The attendance of the consultant at this conference would therefore be highly advisable[1].

Applications should be sent by the 1st of September 2013 with a CV and 2 pages (max.) describing how the applicant would proceed with this research.