International Consultant

Background

The United Nations (UN) Gender Scorecard is a globally standardized rapid assessment of the effectiveness of UN country level gender mainstreaming processes developed by the United Nations Development Group. It enables the UN development system to assess how well gender has been mainstreamed through the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) cycle and allows for comparison and learning between countries that have undergone the gender scorecard exercise. The tool is designed to ensure adherence to international norms for gender equality. The Scorecard focuses on the performance of the UN development system as a whole, rather than the achievements of any one agency. By focusing on gender mainstreaming processes at the highest level, the tool highlights the growing importance of UN agency collaboration and coordination to achieve common goals at the country level.

The UN Gender Scorecard methodology measures gender mainstreaming in UN common programming processes across eight dimensions. The method evaluates processes, rather than results, based on the logic that the UN system is solely accountable for its processes, while results depend on the collective effort of numerous actors and external variables that are beyond the power of any individual entity/agency to control.  The UN Gender Scorecard works within eight overarching areas of inquiry that encompass 22 Indicators to present a holistic measure of gender mainstreaming processes. The eight dimensions are on (i) Planning, (ii) Programming, (iii) Partnerships, (iv) UNCT capacities, (v) Decision-making, (vi) Budgeting, (vii) monitoring and (viii) Evaluation and Accountability.

According to the “United Nations Country Team (UNCT) Performance Indicators for Gender Equality Users’ Guide” (2008), the Gender Scorecard has the following purposes:

• To assist the UNCTs in identifying areas in which they are meeting or not meeting minimum standards towards realizing gender equality and women’s empowerment;
• To stimulate a constructive dialogue within the UNCT about the current status of gender mainstreaming and how it can be improved;
• To identify where technical assistance can support the achievement of minimum standards; and
• To support the sharing of good practices in gender mainstreaming and the promotion of gender equality.

It can also be a relevant exercise:

• To document and publicize best practices and widely share for cross fertilization and replication and scale up
• To inform the development of next genderation of UNDAF 2020-2024

The Gender Scorecard exercise assesses tangible evidence of strengths, weaknesses and highlights good practices of gender mainstreaming, in the UNDAF cycle. It allows for comparison and learning between countries that are implementing similar exercises.  The first Gender Score Card exercise in Ethiopia was conducted in 2009 and the second in 2015 commissioned by UN Women which has ultimately resulted in more progressive UNDAF 2016-2020 compared to its processors.

UN Women, as the co convener of the Results Group on Empowerment and Equality is planning to conduct a Gender Scorecard exercise in the month of August 2019. Moreover, the findings will inform the development of the forthcoming UNSD Cooperation Framework on gender equality and the empowerment of women and guide strategic interventions of the UNCT in Ethiopia.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision of UN Women as the co convener of the Results Group on Empowerment and Equality, the international consultant will perform the following tasks:

• Conduct background document review (home-based): Gender scorecard and user’s guide; Ethiopia UNDAF 2016-2020; previous outcomes of scorecard exercises and UNDAF Reviews; UNDG Common Country Assessment and UNDAF Guidelines for UN Country Teams on Preparing Country Comprehensive Assessment (CCA)/UN Development Assistance Programme/Framework (UNDAPF); UNCT planning and programming documents and reports; Ethiopia Beijing +15 and Beijing +20  and B+ 25 reports  National Reports to the Committee on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, UPR reports, Growth and Transformation Plan II; UNCT budgets, UNCT Joint Programmes and Budgets; Progress Reports of the Joint Programmes; UNCT Annual Reports to the UNDG.
• Conduct Individual and Focus Group Interviews with in the UN System (with Resident Coordinator (RCO); UNDAF Results Group on Equality and Empowerment; UN Communication Group; Technical Working Groups; other relevant results groups as recommended by the RCO; Heads of Agencies and other UN Staff as recommended by the RCO); with the government counterparts (the Ministry of Women, Children and Youth, Ministry of Finance and other relevant sectors as required) and other partners (development partners, Donor Group on Gender Equality, and the Development Assistance Group).
• Draft score card and narrative report.
• Present the draft score card and report at a validation meeting for the Results Group on Equality and Empowerment and relevant RGs.
• Debrief the Resident Coordinator and the UNCT members.
• Complete and submit the final Scorecard, narrative report and follow up action matrix.

Deliverables

• Inception Report on Methodology and expected outcomes for Gender scorecard.
• Report of interviews and names/designation of all those interviewed.
• The Gender Scorecard for Ethiopia UNDAF 2016 – 2020
• Follow up Action Plan/Matrix
• A PowerPoint presentation summarizing the process, results, lessons learned, and the progress made since the last gender score card in 2015 (if any). 

Competencies

• Strong knowledge of UN programming and policy development;
• Knowledge of gender issues and analytical work in international development;
• Experience in results-based management and training;
• Familiarity and previous experience in implementing gender markers;
• Strong knowledge on gender mainstreaming, gender responsive planning and budgeting;
• Experience in research and compilation of information to show results desired;
• Excellent communication, writing skills, and analytical skills;
• Sensitivity, understanding of diversity, work as a team.

Compliance to the UN Core Values:

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UN Women;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favouritism;
• Fulfils all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Required Skills and Experience

Academic Qualifications:

•       Master’s degree in social sciences, law, economic or related field.

Years of experience:

• At least 8 years of professional experience in the area of gender and development, human rights, international development, and/or other social science fields.

Language and other skills:          

• Excellent knowledge of written and oral communication in English.
• Similar experience in facilitation of interviews and FGDs 
• Excellent in report writing
• Computer skills: full command of Microsoft applications (word, excel, PowerPoint) and other relevant software based on the assignment.